People light candles in a temple during the festival of Thai Pongal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Jan. 14, 2022. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)
COLOMBO, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- Thai Pongal, a harvest festival, is celebrated by Sri Lankan Tamils in a variety of ways.
"Pongal" in Tamil means "overflowing" with plenty of food and joy. Using clay pots to make Pongal dishes, the Tamils shout "Pongal-o-Pongal" as the milk boils and overflows, and sprinkle the jars with rice and jaggery coming from the first season of the New Year, praying for a good harvest and a happy life in the coming year.
A woman prays at a temple during the festival of Thai Pongal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Jan. 14, 2022. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
People wait for Pongal as the Pongal is cooked during the festival of Thai Pongal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Jan. 14, 2022. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
A man makes a colorful design during the festival of Thai Pongal in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Jan. 14, 2022. (Photo by Ajith Perera/Xinhua)
Sri Lankan Tamil devotees celebrated Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal at a Hindu temple in Colombo on January 14, 2022. (Photo by Gayan Sameera/Xinhua)
Sri Lankan Tamil devotees celebrated Tamil harvest festival of Thai Pongal at a Hindu temple in Colombo on Jan. 14, 2022 (Tanglu/Xinhua)■
