Tamils across the world celebrate Thai Pongal today, at the beginning of the Tamil month of 'Thai'. The secular festival, which dates back in its current form to at least as far as the Medieval Chola empire, celebrates the harvest and gives thanks to the sun.
Tamil households and workplaces in the homeland and across the world celebrate by swelling milk and rice - the eponymous 'pongal' - in a clay pot, often accompanied by various other treats and seasonal fruits. The overflow of the milk symbolises abundance and prosperity for the year to come.
Our warmest Thai Pongal wishes to Tamils everywhere. ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????.
Photographs of celebrations across the North-East.
