A vibrant celebration of gratitude and harvest, featuring cultural experiences and family-friendly activities in Little India on 11 and 12 January 2025.
Join in a joyous celebration of the harvest festival at the Indian Heritage Centre’s (IHC) annual Pongal Open House on 11 and 12 January 2025! Rooted in the traditions of gratitude and community, Pongal honours farmers’ hard work and the harvest season’s bounty.
This year, the Open House presents an exciting lineup of farm-themed offerings and vibrant cultural experiences in the heart of Little India. Visitors can kick off the celebrations with family-friendly programmes on the first floor of the IHC, where the whole family can get themselves adorned with traditional Pongal motifs with Pongal Face Painting and enjoy Pongal Harvest Games inspired by different farming practices.
Step into the shoes of a farmer at the Interactive Photo Booth where visitors can don a farmer’s hat and pose alongside cattle. Families can also explore a series of stations showcasing Pongal traditions with the Pongal Festive Installation and experience the warmth of the festival with sweet pongal (a rice dish from which the festival gets its name) and masala tea.
On the second floor, dive into more hands-on experiences with Free Henna and Free Drop-In Craft Activities, where visitors can create their own Pongal-themed canvas drawstring bags and unleash their creativity with festive-themed colouring sheets. Take the chance to explore the lively Pongal Farmer’s Market, where local businesses will showcase a variety of goods inspired by agriculture and Indian cultural heritage.
Throughout the event, families can also pick up special Pongal Activity Booklets, perfect for teaching young ones about the festival’s traditions in a fun and educational way. Visitors can also immerse in the rhythm and energy of a Live Folk Concert, with traditional performances that capture the vibrancy of the harvest season.
For those looking to explore Little India this festive season, the Banana Leaf Brunch and Pongal Trail is an immersive journey delving into the essence of this joyous harvest celebration, complete with a delectable vegetarian banana leaf brunch. Registration for this programme is required at https://ihc-programmes.peatix.com.
To learn more about the traditions of Pongal, visit https://www.roots.gov.sg/en/ich-landing/ich/pongal.
