Ambassador Wickramasuriya: “Thai Pongal symbolizes the importance of the earth and the gifts it has given us.”

Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal (left) and Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya during the Thai Pongal 2012 celebration

WASHINGTON (January 17, 2012) – Sri Lankan Americans gathered at the Embassy of Sri Lanka here Friday, Jan. 13, to take part in Thai Pongal, the harvest festival that celebrates the sun, the fruits of the earth and the renewal of the spirit.

Guests including officials from the US State Department filled the embassy’s salon for the traditional celebration of giving thanks for the harvest. Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal offered Hindu prayers, performed the lighting of the traditional oil lamp and also presented the offering of Pongal to Lord Ganesh and Deities.

The program also featured a talk on “The significance of Thai Pongal” by Mrs. J. Ranganthan, as well as devotional songs by a Bajan made up of Pradosh Desai, his daughter Shirali, Ernie Dharma and Hirmaransi Ranasinghe.

Thai Pongal was held in keeping with the embassy’s tradition of celebrating the important religious festivals of Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims and Christians.

During the ceremony, Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya noted the importance of agriculture and the closeness that Sri Lankans feel to the land. He also reported on efforts to renew the Northern Sri Lankan agricultural areas, and the government’s work to expand services and economic opportunity throughout all of Sri Lanka in the post-conflict environment.

“Today in Sri Lanka, we are seeing big changes that fit with the essence of Thai Pongal,” the ambassador said. “Work in the North is being done to restore the land to full production and provide farmers with livelihoods that were interrupted by the conflict. De-mining continues and more and more land is being occupied.

The government is spending $1 billion annually to improve roads, bridges, rails lines, water systems, electricity and other public services. Perhaps most importantly, there have been no deaths or injuries due to terrorism in nearly three years since the conflict ended.

“Thai Pongal symbolizes the importance of the earth and the gifts it has given us. It also reminds us of the importance of the gift of each other – our community. Working together, we can help those at home who are working hard to rebuild families, communities and lives.”

Thai Pongal is a national holiday in Sri Lanka that recognizes the harvest as a time to give thanks to the earth, the bounty it creates and the animals that work to produce the harvest. It is a time of renewal when personal differences are forgiven.

Captions:
01. Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal (left) and Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya during the Thai Pongal 2012 celebration

02. A Tamil Community member prepares Pongal Kolam with the Staff of the Embassy of Sri Lanka for Thai Pongal 2012

03. Guests observe Thai Pongal at the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Washington, DC

04. (From left) Ambassador Jaliya Wickramasuriya, Swami Sivanatha Kurukkal and Deputy Chief of Mission Esala Weeerakoon at the Embassy of Sri Lanka’s Thai Pongal celebration

05. Mrs. J. Ranganathan describes the “significance of Thai Pongal” to guests of the Embassy of Sri Lanka, Washington, D.C.

06. Guests enjoy Sri Lankan fare at the Embassy of Sri Lanka’s 2012 Thai Pongal ceremony

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