Peninsula prepares for Pongu Thamil celebrations

[TamilNet, Sunday, 22 June 2003, 11:41 GMT]
Jaffna residents are preparing to conduct street dramas and other cultural uprising events widely across the district at village level for the second Pongu Thamil celebrations to be held on the 27 June, reports from Jaffna said.

"We want our land," has been decided as the theme of the celebrations during the first anniversary celebrations held on 17 January at the Jaffna University grounds.

More than 600 student activists are campaigning across the villages of Jaffna discussing with the village level civil organizations and public on the importance of the event to the Tamil people and requesting their co-operation, reports said.

In a memorandum issued by the undergraduates of the Jaffna campus, the students said, "Pongu Thamil event is a non-violent event and is being organized as a vehicle for expressing to the cultural feelings of the Tamil people. During the morning on the day of the event, celebrations will take place at the school level where in addition to talks by the principal and teachers, students will read poetry, speak and widely participate in musical events.

"On Friday during meetings held in Vadamaradchy, Thenmaradchy, Islets, Jaffna and Maruthanamadam areas where school principals, teachers, representatives of civil organizations, and students participated, it was decided to decorate Schools and Public institutions with Red/Yellow flags, mango-leaves and auspicious banana plants on the day of the event.

"To facilitate organized movement of people expected to participate in large numbers during the celebrations proper transportation arrangements are being organized. Parking areas for vehicles including motor bikes and bicycles are also being setup close to the venues of celebrations.

"Soft drinks, snacks and drinking water facilities will be available within the campus grounds," the memorandum by the University students said.