By S. Rishikumar
SEGi College Kuala Lumpur recently held a Ponggal celebration on campus in order to promote unity and cultural respect among its varied student community. The three-day holiday, which is celebrated by Indians all over the world, is named after a sweet rice dish and represents giving thanks to mother nature and the sun for abundant harvests.
The event, led by Senior Lecturer S. Rishikumar in partnership with the college’s Student Representative Council (SRC), brought together members of the college’s management, faculty lecturers, and students of diverse races and cultural backgrounds. Stella Lau, Managing Director of University and Colleges, also attended the ceremony.
The festivities included a Ponggal cooking competition, traditional dance performances, games including breaking the pot (Urri Addithal), and a Rangoli competition. Almost 200 members gathered at SEGi College Kuala Lumpur’s entrance, which was decked with sugar cane and Thoranam (Young Coconut Leaf Décor).
Rishikumar, a Senior Marketing Professor, felt that the event deserved to be publicised and successfully arranged for the celebration to be covered in the Tamil news by local TV channel RTM 2. The event’s highlights were televised as evening headline news, demonstrating the college’s commitment to cultural diversity and appreciation.
This event reflects the Malaysian government’s emphasis on inter-racial unity (PERPADUAN) and SEGi College Kuala Lumpur’s commitment to encouraging cultural awareness and diversity among its students. The college encourages students to participate in a variety of cultural and educational activities that will help them in their future corporate positions.
The success of this Ponggal festival emphasises the value of cultural appreciation and variety in educational institutions, as well as the good impact it may have on encouraging togetherness and understanding among various populations.
