Pongal festival was celebrated with religious fervour coupled with fun and frolic at Valikandapuram village in Veppanthattai panchayat union in the district on Wednesday.
Thirty foreign tourists from Australia, Netherlands, China, France, Germany, England, Italy, Spain, and Scotland took part in the festival and enjoyed the cultural programmes, martial arts, and sports.
The visiting tourists were accorded a traditional reception with garlands and nadhaswaram. They were taken to Sri Valeeswarar temple, accompanied by artistes who gave a performance in Karagattam, Mayilattam, Tharai, and Thappattai. They participated in the traditional ritual in a rural ambience.
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Later, pongal was cooked in front of the cluster of huts on the open ground in the area.
Darez Ahamed, District Collector, Sonal Chandra, Superintendent of Police, V.Rajan Durai, District Revenue Officer, and P.Madusudan Reddy, Sub-Collector, joined the tourists and explained the culture behind the festival dedicated to Sun god.
People of the village entertained the tourists by presenting Kummi dance. Foreigners joined the folk artistes in the dance. Kabadi, rangoli, uriyadi, and tug-of-war were the highlights of the celebrations.
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