Pongal is a traditional harvest festival celebrated to mark the onset of the harvest season. It is a four-day festival, with the main day known as Thai Pongal, where families gather to cook a special dish called “pongal” made from freshly harvested rice, cane sugar, and milk, which is then offered to the sun god as a gesture of gratitude for a successful harvest. Pongal is also a time for social gatherings, traditional games, and colorful decorations, symbolizing renewal, prosperity, and thanksgiving.
 
Here at MySkills, we also want to showcase our gratitude and share the spirit of the season with our Students, Parents, Alumni, Donors , Supporters , Volunteers and Partners alike thus the title of the event, ‘Namma Veetu Ponggal’ which translates into ‘Ponggal at Our Home’, hosted on our Kalumpang campus.
 
Beginning at 8:00am on the 28th of January, we had various booths selling different food prepared by our students for the breakfast and getting up for the ‘ponggal’ making.
 
The event itself featured ponggal making, a cow procession, culture performances by members of our local community, including a traditional bharatanatyam performance and a silambam (martial arts) demonstration, as well special as performances from our students. There were also a host of activities such as a colouring competition and traditional games such as kolam rangoli, thoranam making and flower garland making.
 
This entire event was meant to be a celebration of life on campus, as well as to express gratitude for the abundant support we have received over the years. It was also the first open day event we have held since the COVID-19 pandemic started.
In the end, the event concluded with a movie session ‘tent kottai’ – or an open-air movie screening. In the past, communities would gather to watch a movie together under the stars or a tent, given weather conditions. Events like this would bring a community together, regardless of race, creed or nationality. It is our sincere hope that we can continue growing and evolving together as we continue pursuing our mission at MySkills Foundation with greater appreciation.