Follow Us
Subscribe to Events and Festivals Blog
Singapore Night Safari…
Singapore Night Safari known as the world’s first wildlife park that offers an after sunset tour. A place to see the Ani…
Read MoreThe Lantern Festival in Bangkok – a glorious sight…
It is one of the most noteworthy days in the Chinese calendar. The colorful Lantern Festival which is also known as Yuanxi…
Read MoreHappy Valley Racecourse – where colonial racing tr…
In Hong Kong, once a colony of the British, horse racing is still quite popular today as it was among its colonial masters…
Read MoreEntertainment City – a world of fun and amusement …
Kuwait is an Arab Emirate nestled in the Persian Gulf’s northwestern coast, flanked by Saudi Arabia on its south and Ira…
Read MoreSukhumvit – The quintessential Thai nocturnal expe…
If Bangkok seems endlessly lively and busy during the day, it is of little surprise that life in the vibrant capitol city …
Read MoreJazz Clubs in London – Move to the music…
Back in the days of the Roman’s London, was merely a little village on the river Thames with narrow streets lined with t…
Read More
A harvest festival that has its origins in South India, Thai Pongal is a thanksgiving festival held in honour of the Sun God Surya. Occurring every year from January 13th to the 15th, the timing of Thai Pongal is calculated according to astronomic events. The festival coincides with the movement of the Sun to Makaram or Capricorn.
During this auspicious celebration, houses are decorated with banana and mango leaves while intricate and coulourful patterns called ‘Kolams’ decorate the floor. Boiling of milk and its spilling over is a significant tradition during the Tamil Thai Pongal. It represents abundance and prosperity that will be plentiful in the household. While the milk spills over people shout ‘Pongalo Pongal’ and watching the milk spill over is thought to be good luck.
The day preceding Thai Pongal is celebrated as Maattu Pongal. Cattle are considered sacred by Hindus and their vital role as the animal used for ploughing during the early days, makes them also equally important. Decorated with sweet-smelling garlands and bright coloured powder, they are fed jaggery, fruits, honey and sugar cane.
Tamil Thai Pongal is widely celebrated in Sri Lanka and is a national holiday. Many tourists visit the island during this time to experience the celebrations first-hand as well as enjoy the sun, sand and surfs. The town of Kalutara was once a capital when the region was under the rule of a Southern Indian Prince and so has a long history of celebrating the festival of Thai Pongal.
Hotel in Kalutara are mostly adjoining the beaches or within close proximity. Beach Resorts Sri Lanka Kalutara is available in various star classes. Avani Kalutara Resort is a newly refurbished hotel that was opened in October 2012 and is run by Serendib Hotels.
Kalutara also has many interesting sites such as the Kalu Ganga River, the Kalutara Vihara, the Asokaramaya Buddhist Temple and many more. If you are making the visit, then definitely take the time to explore the scrumptious seafood cuisine of Kalutara. From succulent tiger prawns to delicious lobsters, crabs to tender fish, there’s much to taste and enjoy.
Umanga Kahandawaarachchi is a passionate travel writer who writes under the pen name, Maggie Tulliver. Her field of writing covers a wide array of content and articles related to travel and hospitality industry.