Bhairavi Sungum of Springs and the community unite to celebrate the 30th Tamil new year with traditional zeal
The 30th Tamil new year, hosted by the Bhairavi Sungum of Springs, gave attendees an out-of-this-world experience of song, dance, music, and good food on Saturday.
Women, men, and children dressed in their finest traditional attire celebrated the 30th Tamil new year at the Bakerton Community Centre on Saturday.
The Bhairavi Sungum of Springs celebrates this auspicious occasion with song, dance, and music in Tamil celebrations of their heritage.
Poovershree Pillay, the chairperson of the Bhairavi Sungum of Springs, welcomed the visitors and emphasised the importance of upholding their long history and customs.
“As we celebrate the new year, we are reminded of our culture’s rich history and traditions. The Tamil new year, also known as Puthandu, is a time to reflect on the past year and to welcome the new one with hope and optimism,” said Pillay.
“It’s a time to get together with family and friends to share a meaning, exchange gifts, and pray for prosperity and happiness in the coming year.”
She said because the pandemic halted their other celebrations, they couldn’t gather with their loved ones how they used to. However, she reiterated the importance of cultural traditions that brought them together, even from a distance.
“We must continue to hold on to our culture and traditions even in the face of adversity. Our cultural identity is what makes us who we are.
“It connects us with our past, present, and future, gives us a sense of belonging, and helps us build strong communities.”
Pillay added that although the negative effect of the pandemic was the closure of the Springs Tamil School, they had to consider the lives and livelihoods of their children, parents and elderly teachers.
“Although classes had stopped, this was the beginning of a new venture of exploring Tamil online and through home studies, not only for children but for parents as well,” said Pillay.
The guest speaker, Maligay Naicker from the Tamil Federation of Gauteng, shared the importance of doing art, saying it fosters creativity in children, and music is mathematical, helping children learn to analyse music and promote active listening skills.
The women of Bhairavi of Sungum of Springs served dinner and dessert to round off the event.
