The Editor’s Beat: Why Pongal still matters

As the aroma of boiling milk and sweet jaggery wafts through the streets of Little India, we are reminded that Pongal is more than just a harvest festival.

In the heart of a hyper-modern Singapore, where skyscrapers have long replaced paddy fields, some might ask: Why does a 2,000-year-old celebration rooted in agriculture still hold such weight for us?

For the Tamil community, Pongal, which is connected to Tamizhar Thirunaal, is the pulse of its cultural identity. This connection was perhaps most vibrantly championed by the founder of Tamil Murasu, and former president of the Tamils Reform Association, the late Govindasamy Sarangapany (KoSa), in the 1950s.

Through his leadership and the “Tamizhar Thirunaal” annual gatherings, he didn’t just celebrate a festival; he used Pongal as a socio-cultural movement to unify the community and to fortify the Tamil language and identity in Singapore and Malaya, which was then a foreign land for Tamils. KoSa chose Pongal for its secular nature and its ability to unite Tamils, then divided by caste and religion.

Today, as we see the neon lights of Serangoon Road glow, we stand on the shoulders of that legacy.

The baton must now pass to the younger generation. In an era of digital distractions, Pongal offers a much-needed “cultural reset”. The festival serves as a vital bridge. It is not merely about the ritual of the overflowing pot; at its core, it’s about the philosophy of gratitude.

In a fast-paced city, the festival reminds our youth to pause and thank the elements that enable and enrich our lives, chiefly the sun, the earth, and the animals that sustain life, becoming a lesson in mindfulness and environmental stewardship.

When young Singaporeans participate – whether by donning traditional veshtis and sarees, or joining the collective Pongal events organised by Little India Shopowners’ & Heritage Association (LISHA) and the Indian Heritage Centre – they aren’t just reenacting history. They are claiming their space in Singapore’s multicultural tapestry and developing a grounded perspective on life.

Pongal is our celebration of renewal. As the pot boils over and we shout “Pongalo Pongal,” we aren’t just celebrating a good harvest of the past; we are sowing the seeds of identity for the future. We should, as a community, ensure that our youth are at the forefront of this celebration, for they are the ones who will keep our heritage boiling bright for generations to come.