Scenes of foreigners celebrating Pongal festival in Thoothukudi by wearing saree and vetti in traditional Tamil style and putting sugar Pongal in an earthen pot are going viral on the internet.
A private tourism company called ‘Classic Run’ in Chennai has been organizing an auto tour called ‘Auto Challenge’ in which foreigners participate for the past 16 years. This year’s organized Auto Challenge Tour started in Chennai on 28th.
In this, 37 people from 6 countries including America, New Zealand, Netherlands, Australia, Norway and Estonia participated and divided into 17 teams in autos and reached Tuticorin today in 17 autos via Chennai, Puducherry, Thanjavur and Madurai. After visiting Uppalangal, the famous Panimaya Anai Temple and Muthunagar Beach, they came to celebrate Pongal at a private garden in Sairapuram near Thoothukudi.
For this purpose sugarcane, yellow gourd and banana torans were built all over the garden. They came to the garden in autos and were welcomed with garlands. After that, everyone wore the traditional dress of Tamils, vetti and saree. All the 17 teams were given separate Pongal Paani, Bacharisi and Nutcharkarai by opening the stove. Each team had a separate Pongal. When the Pongal was blooming in the pot, the gardeners chanted ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and amazed the clan.
After this, the judges tasted the Pongal prepared by the foreigners and selected the top three teams. They were given marsupials as the first prize, Malai Ethan as the second prize and green banana bunches as the third prize. When the coordinator of this tour spoke to Brinli… he said, “We have organized this auto challenge program so that foreigners can know our culture”.
Similarly, ‘We like the culture of Tamils very much. Special respect is earned by wearing a vetti and saree. “Gathering here for Pongal is one of the most memorable moments of our lives,” the foreigners said. They continue to Thiruvananthapuram via Kanyakumari and return to their native place on the 6th.