All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi (AISMK) organised ‘Samathuva Pongal’ (equality Pongal) festival at Karaikudi in Sivaganga district and Tiruvadanai in Ramanathapuram district.
AISMK leader and legislator R. Sarathkumar, accompanied by his wife Radhika Sarathkumar, inaugurated the festivals.
After offering worship at the temple of his family deity at his native village Siravayal in Sivaganga district, Mr Sarathkumar launched the ‘Samathuva pongal’ celebration at Karaikudi on Thursday and at Tiruvadanai on Friday.
A large number of women cooked Pongal at a common place.
“We want the people to live in harmony and unison sinking their caste and communal differences,” he told reporters at Tiruvadanai.
Disappointed
“People are disappointed and sad that Jallikattu could not be organised this year,” he said, adding ‘Jallikattu’ was a sport of valour existed even in the Indus-Valley civilisation.
“Banning the sport amounted to destroying the Tamil culture and tradition,” he said.
Fast soon
He said the State government would have promulgated an ordinance paving way for Jallikattu in the State, but the matter was pending before the court. To draw the attention of the Centre, the AISMK, after consulting all Jallikattu associations, would observe a fast soon, he also said.
