Pongal festival unites all Tamils in the world: VIT chancellor

VIT founder and chancellor G. Viswanathan inaugurated Pongal festivities at the campus in Vellore on Tuesday in a traditional manner.

Addressing students at the event, Mr. Viswanathan said that Pongal is the quintessential festival for Tamils who live in 160 countries. The festival unites all Tamils irrespective of their geographical boundaries. “Tamils should always follow the principles like duty, dignity and discipline that E.V. Ramasamy Periyar and C.N. Annadurai propagated to make them successful in their lives,” he said.

Traditional art forms, including Bharatanatyam, Jikkaattam and Silambattam, performed by troupes, stole the hearts of students and guests. Pongal was made with rice, jaggery, pulses, cardamom and cashew nuts in a traditional clay pot, signifying the festival.

The festival is celebrated annually at VIT, with participation from students, faculty members, management, and non-teaching staff. It is organised each year by Paavendhar Bharathidasan Tamil Literary Association and VIT School of Agricultural Innovations and Advanced Learning. Students from different countries also took part in the celebrations, wearing traditional clothes.

On the occasion, books on water management, millets and agriculture were released by Mr. Viswanathan in the presence of Sankar Viswanathan, vice-president, VIT. The books, published by VIT, were given to farmers.