The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Paris celebrated Thai Pongal to pay tribute to the forces of nature, in particular to the sun god and farm animals for a plentiful harvest as per the Hindu tradition on 15 January 2019 together with its staff and members of the Sri Lankan community living in France.
Swami Somaskandan of the Sri Manika Vinayakar Alayam Kovil in Paris performed the pooja by presenting offering to Lord ‘Ganesh’ and invoked blessings on President Maithripala Sirisena, Prime Minister Ranil Wickramasinghe, all Sri Lankans as well as the Embassy for peace and prosperity in abundance.
In his address to the gathering, Ambassador Buddhi K. Athauda noted the traditional significance of celebrating Thai Pongal festival in an agricultural community. He also highlighted the importance of cherishing ceremonies belonging to different faiths as Sri Lankans to celebrate unity in diversity as a nation with a rich cultural heritage.
The Embassy was decorated with traditional kolam and the guests were offered delicious pongal, wadai and modagam in keeping with the tradition.
