Najran, Saudi Arabia | 16 January 2026
Najran Tamil Mandram (NTM) successfully organized its Third Annual Pongal 2026 Celebration on 16 January 2026 in Najran, Saudi Arabia, in association with the Consulate General of India, Jeddah. The event marked the Tamil harvest festival of Pongal and aimed to promote Tamil culture, tradition, and unity among the Indian diaspora in the Kingdom.
The celebrations commenced at 3:00 PM and witnessed the enthusiastic participation of over 1,500 attendees, marking the event as a grand success. The celebration was widely praised by Tamils living across Saudi Arabia for its scale, organization, and cultural authenticity. The program featured a wide range of traditional Tamil cultural activities, including folk games such as tug of war, Uriyadi, and Kabaddi, along with live cultural performances.
A special highlight of the event was the traditional Parai drum performance, which received enthusiastic appreciation from the audience. Another key attraction was the customary Pongal cooking, prepared collectively by women members in the traditional manner.
The program began with the Tamil Thai Vazhthu, symbolizing Tamil cultural heritage.
NTM Founder Dr. Umapathi, in his address, spoke about the origins of Najran Tamil Mandram and its steady growth in uniting the Tamil community in the Najran region.
In her presidential address, Dr. Maheswari Ganeshan, President of NTM, emphasized the significance of the Thai festival and highlighted the importance of expressing gratitude to farmers and nature.
Engineer Sonairaja, Secretary of NTM, presented an overview of the Mandram’s annual activities and outlined its future plans.
As the Chief Guest, His Excellency Shri Fahad Ahmed Khan Suri, Consul General of India in Jeddah, addressed the gathering virtually. He appreciated the efforts of Najran Tamil Mandram in bringing together the Indian diaspora and stated that celebrations such as Pongal play a vital role in preserving cultural identity while strengthening the spirit of “Unity in Diversity” among Indians living in Saudi Arabia.
The event also featured a special address by another Chief Guest, JTS Eng Kaja Mohideen, President of the Saudi Tamil Sangams Federation. He stressed the importance of passing on Tamil language and cultural values to the younger generation growing up abroad and commended the strong bond among Indian communities in the Kingdom.
As Guest of Honour, Dr. Jayashankar Tetla praised Najran Tamil Mandram for creating a platform that brought together people from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds to celebrate a shared cultural tradition.
In connection with Thiruvalluvar Day, children enthusiastically recited Thirukkural verses, receiving wide appreciation from the audience. Traditional art forms such as Parai Attam, Kummi, Oyilattam, and Silambam captivated attendees and reflected the richness of Tamil heritage.
The celebrations continued into the evening and concluded with a prize distribution ceremony.
The event ended with a vote of thanks by Mr. Muthukumar, while the entire program was smoothly anchored by Dr. Joyce, whose articulate presentation added grace and professionalism to the occasion.
