Tamils celebrate New Year
The Tamil community on the South Coast is a vibrant one and it is proud of its heritage.
THE Tamil community celebrated Manmatha Varusham 5116 at the Port Shepstone Civic Centre last Saturday.
Hosted by the Port Shepstone Tamil Association and the KZN Tamil Federation, the celebrations took place three days before the actual Tamil New Year, which was observed on Tuesday this week.
However, the celebrations were by no means subdued. The turnout was excellent and those who attended were kept well entertained from start to finish with great music and dances from local and Durban artists. Keeping guests cheering were students from the Merebank Tamil School Society. The event was both eye-opening and educational.
Chairman of the Port Shepstone Tamil Association, Dinah Naidoo, said although the Tamil New Year is but a petal among the many festivities in the South African calendar of events, it is a significant one. “It is important so that future generations will appreciate their culture and heritage in years to come,” said Mrs Naidoo.
According to the guru at the Port Shepstone Tamil Association, Guru P Hariharan: “It is important to fast and observe prayer for our well-being. This new year resolution should be one of progress,” he said.
The association thanks South Coast Tourism and the local community for supporting the event and making it a huge success.
