Significance of Thai Pongal so relevant today: President

President Maithripala Sirisena said that as the world look forward to move in the direction of sustainability, the message transmitted by Thai Pongal since antiquity, becomes ever more relevant.

In a Thai Pongal message he stated that Festivals such as these rekindles the contract between man and the gifts of nature, while epitomizing the enormity of the human gratefulness.

Since the dawn of civilization, the humanity’s devotion to the sun that symbolizes the wholeness of nature has remained intact, he said.

The President added that from among the many traditional festivals and rituals of Hindus in veneration of the sun, Thai Pongal is the foremost festival, that marks the supreme status the Hindus have bestowed upon the sun throughout history.

"Thai Pongal is rendered colourftul by the fact that it allows us to show our gratitude to nature and renew our hopes devotedly. Making the broad span of the Hindu culture evident, they make Thai Pongal an occasion to be thankful, not only to the sun for giving us duly rain and bountiful harvests, but also to the cattle by feasting of cows, for providing us with milk" he further said.