Celebrating ‘Thaipongal Vizha’ ( Farmers Festival ) in the village of Kirankulam on 16.01.2012  with the participation of members from  different communities

‘Thaipongal Vizha’ ( Farmers Festival ) was celebrated at the Multipurpose Community Centre in  Kirankulam village on 16.01.2012 by the Members attached to  ‘Thalir’ CBO of Tharmapuram which was organized by Caritas EHED, Batticaloa –Kalmunai under it’s Social Justice and Sustainable Peace activities.
Members from Self Help Groups of Caritas EHED and youth belonging to Christian, Hindu and Islamic faiths from the villages of Sahayapuram, Dutch Bar, Kallady-Veloor, Kattankudy, Kirankulam and Tharmapuram took part in this event on the invitation of Caritas EHED.

‘Thaipongal Vizha’ commenced with the boiling of Milk Rice in the traditional way with the participation of Rev.Fr.Cryton Outschoorn, Director , Caritas EHED, Batticaloa – Kalmunai and other distinguished guests around 9.30 A.M.

This event followed with the lighting of the traditional oil lamp by the Chief Guest Rev.Fr.Cryton Outschoorn and other Guests.  

Mr.M. Alagathurai , GSO for Kirankulam  in his speech said,  Caritas EHED have always helped people who were in need of assistance irrespective of race, religion and  colour when they were subjected to  manmade or natural disasters in Batticaloa and Ampara Districts.

Mr.K.Tharmalingam, Justice of Peace said it was time for people belonging to different communities for them to forget the past and to walk forward hands in hand in order build peace and thereby to live in harmony.
Rev.Fr.Cryton Outschoorn, Director , Caritas EHED, Batticaloa – Kalmunai who was the Chief Guest at this function said he was very happy to see the members from the three communities who have jointly gathered here to celebrate ‘Thaipongal Vizha’ ( Farmers Festival) on the invitation of Caritas EHED which sponsored this event under it’s Social Justice and Sustainable Peace activity. He believed this type of celebrations will help in coming to know each other from other communities and in knowing their traditions, culture and religious practices of other religious faiths which in return will definitely help to rebuild the lost unity among the three communities in order to sustain ever lasting Peace among them to live as one community in this country.  

This event concluded around 11.30 A.M. with the delivery of Vote of Thanks by one of the members of ‘Thalir’ CBO of Tharmapuram. Around 200 members from the three communities took part in this programme and made this programme a milestone and colourful event in the village of Kirankulam.