The Pongal Celebrations at Akshar Arbol International School turned out to be a colourful and fun-filled event. Pongal was celebrated with the children dressed up in traditional costumes. Pongal is an offering to the Sun God and the sweet was made in colourful mud pots by the children of grades 7, 8, 9 and 11. The children gathered together to pray to the Sun God with the traditional offering of betel leaves, flowers, betel nuts, bananas and Pongal.

Grades 4, 5, 7 and 8 spoke about the significance of celebrating Pongal, the harvest festival and how harvest festival is celebrated under different names throughout the world. Pongal celebration is an opportunity to express our gratitude not only to the Sun God but also to mother nature.

Traditional folk dances were performed to the tune of folk music and songs by ELC 2 and 3 and grades 1, 2 and 3. The bullock cart was painted and decorated with festoons by the children and they enjoyed a ride in the cart, as a reminder of the celebration in villages.

Kaivalam the world craft council were invited to participate in Pongal celebrations and the students were taught the traditional art of kolam. It was a two-day workshop and the children showed immerse enthusiasm in learning the ‘kolam art’ of different states in India. The programme came to a conclusion with the distribution of the sweet pongal.