Chennai: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday praised Tamil civilisation as a great civilisation while participating in Pongal celebrations at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Madras.

Minister’s Remarks

Addressing the faculty, staff, and students, Pradhan highlighted the shared cultural heritage of harvest festivals across India:

• Assam & Northeast: Bihu
• Punjab: Lohri
• Gujarat & Maharashtra: Uttarayan
• Eastern India: Makar Sankranti
• Southern India: Pongal

He emphasized that despite regional names and customs, these festivals celebrate agriculture, sustainability, and abundance, reflecting the unity in diversity of Indian culture.

Pradhan quipped about enjoying Pongal food and expressed gratitude for the opportunity to participate in the festival with the IIT Madras community, noting that it was the first time he had celebrated the rituals in such a setting.

Praise for Tamil Culture

Pradhan lauded Tamil civilisation and conveyed his best wishes to the Tamil-speaking community globally:

“Tamil civilisation is a great civilisation. I am happy to celebrate Pongal in the holy land Tamil Nadu.”

On social media, he shared photographs of the celebrations and wrote:

“A great delight to celebrate Pongal and immerse in the celebration of abundance, warmth and togetherness with the IIT Madras family. Synonymous with the vibrant culture of Tamil Nadu, may the spirit of Pongal bring good health and happiness and further peace, prosperity and harmony.”

About Pongal

Pongal, celebrated mainly in Tamil Nadu, is a harvest festival marking the sun’s northward movement. The festival involves boiling newly harvested rice with milk and jaggery, prayers for prosperity, and community gatherings. It symbolizes gratitude for nature’s bounty and social harmony.

Pradhan’s participation underscores the importance of cultural festivals in fostering unity and appreciating India’s civilisational heritage.

If you want, I can also summarize all major Indian harvest festivals mentioned by Pradhan in a small comparative table for quick reference. It’s a neat way to see the cultural connections.