Cultural Section of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Moscow organized the Thai Pongal celebration on 14 January 2021. This is the harvest festival celebrated by the Hindu community all around the world. Sri Lanka, being a multi-national and a multi-religious country, celebrates festivals of many beliefs and Thai Pongal is one of the most remarkable festivals, which is arranged to appreciate the nature, the sun and cattle for helping to get a rich harvest.
The ceremony commenced with lighting the candles of traditional Kolam designs and offering of Pongal rice to the God. Ambassador Prof. M. D. Lamawansa participated in boiling over of milk ceremony and addressed the gathering, congratulating those who celebrate Thai Pongal. In his speech, the Ambassador underlined the importance of celebrating this tradition in the Embassy with the Tamil community residing in Russia, and other five countries of accreditation: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Uzbekistan.
Felicitation message of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa was read out by, Attache’ of the Embassy K. R. N. Sandamali. , Minister Counsellor N. M. M. Anas also made a speech on the traditions of the holiday to the Russian participants of the ceremony. The event was organized and compered by First Secretary Nirosha K. Herath.
Embassy of Sri Lanka
Moscow
21 January 2021
