Since it is Ponggal Festival I uncovered this lot of Ponggal photos
in my old Samsung cellphone, taken way back in 2009 early one
morning before I took the students to Public Speaking at Menara Star
I saw this teacher Puan J (forgotten her name!!! she is from Batu Pahat! daughter of
the headmistress of th private school Coronation School in BP)
she has since transferred
sporting jasmines in her hair
table decoration
wet morning at the terrace but it did not dampen their spirits
members of the Indian Cultural Society busy setting up the place
all that symbolises Ponggal
my pots of bougainvillea that I ordered from a student's nursery came in handy, I was pleased
cane, and pots to overboil milk
teacher in charge of the Indian Cultural Society, Mr Uthaya
wow! in full traditional gear!
doesn't see look grand in her costume? with oil ready to light the lamps
my Form 6 student
ready for guests...it is still very early
banner seen from the terrace but the camera is not very good
Brass candlesticks
rattan armchairs for VIPS
complete with banners
my phone could not take the whole pic!!! I had no smartphone then!
boy waiting for me to take him to Public Speaking
ready for the opening ceremony
I love these garlands
hope the rain will not spoil the event
chopping wood with a cleaver!!
En Uthaya, my ex colleague
En Yusri the official photographer
Dinesh, my Peach class student
FROM THE STAR TODAY
Monday January 14, 2013
Grateful for a bountiful harvest
Which one?: Gaithsir Maniam and her son Akshayen Suresh choosing a claypot for the Ponggal celebration at Jalan Tengku Kelana in Klang.
PONGGAL is celebrated by Indians to give thanks for a bountiful harvest and also marks the start of the new year with the first month called ‘Thai’.
Ponggal starts with Bhogi where the house is cleaned. Surya Ponggal, which is today, honours the Sun god and members of the family wear new clothes and boil milk to cook the sweet rice using a new pot.
The third day is Maattu Pongal and honours cattle. Cows and bullocks are washed, decorated and worshipped for their role in ensuring a good harvest. The last day is Kanni Ponggal where young women pray for a good life and a good husband.
FROM THE NEW STRAITS TIMES TODAY:
GOOD HARVEST: The Tamil community do some last-minute shopping in Little India, Brickfields
KUALA LUMPUR: IT'S Ponggal today and Malaysians of Indian origin, especially Tamils, offer thanks to mother earth for a bountiful harvest.
They will start the day with prayers, cooking of the sweet rice in clay pots and feast on vegetarian dishes.
Little India, Brickfields, here, was a hive of activity over the weekend as those celebrating Ponggal shopped for clay pots, silverware, clothes, fresh fruits and vegetables, among other provisions.
Modern Store employee, who wished to be known as Ayya, said most of the retailers here began selling the items for Ponggal on Friday.
"Business has been brisk," he said.
Sugar cane, one of the essential items for the celebration, was conspicuously missing. Ayya said the sugar canes were only expected to arrive the day before Ponggal.
"The clay pots are priced from RM4.90 to RM9.90, depending on the size.
"Vegetables, both local and imported from India, are also being sold at low-prices. Local cili padi is sold at RM13 per kg while chillies from India cost RM10 per kg.
"Brown sugar costs RM1.75 per kg and sugar cane will be sold from RM1.70 and RM2 per stalk.
"The prices fluctuate but we try to keep our prices low for our customers," he said.
S. Sella, who was shopping here, on the other hand, said prices had gone up.
"It's common for traders to hike up the prices during festivals. Although the prices are high, I come here here for the fresh vegetables," said Sella, who lives in Petaling Jaya.
Another customer, Karthi Chidambram from Taman Kinrara, Puchong, found the prices a little high, too.
"The clay pots and wooden ladles are affordable but I find the vegetable prices a little high.
"I am not sure whether they (the traders) are hiking it up because it is Ponggal," she said.
Read more: Celebrants shop for Ponggal - Central - New Straits Times http://www.nst.com.my/streets/central/celebrants-shop-for-ponggal-1.200823#ixzz2HwX9Ov9T
No comments:
Post a Comment