This year, the harvest festival Pongal takes place from 15 to 18 January. Participants will be immersed in the traditional practices of the festival as Kamini shares stories related to Pongal, as well as delve deeper into four to six different types of Pongal rice dishes that are traditionally prepared. Participants will be invited to eat and taste the different rice dishes while gaining a deeper understanding of the role of rice, harvest and beliefs in Indian culture.
They will also learn about the main ritual of boiling milk to celebrate Pongal. This ritual relates directly to the Serangoon Road area’s history of cattle and dairy trade, as well as the symbols of cows and cattle that can be found in the precinct. Myths and folklore related to cattle will be shared that will contextualise the precinct’s history.
