AMPANG, Jan 18 — The Selangor-level Ponggal Festival is more than just a celebration; it serves as a platform to preserve the cultural heritage of the Indian community and to strengthen inter-ethnic relations in the state.
Ampang Jaya Municipal Council (MPAJ) councillor Nadesan Varathan said the traditional festival must be preserved to reinforce racial unity.
“The Ponggal Festival helps to strengthen unity, not only within the Indian community in Ampang and Pandan, but across Selangor and Malaysia as a whole.
“It is a traditional celebration that must continue to be preserved,” he said during the Selangor-level Ponggal Festival 2026 at Dewan Dato’ Ahmad Razali last night.
Nadesan added that the celebration carries a message of harmony between humans and nature, in line with the values of Selangor’s multicultural society.
He also proposed that the celebration be gradually expanded across all 12 local authorities in the state.
“This approach can strengthen bonds and serve as an example to other areas in preserving the culture and traditions of the Indian community, which are increasingly being forgotten,” Nadesan said.
Meanwhile, visitor K. Kanegesswari, 40, said the Ponggal festival has its own unique appeal as it retains its original concepts and traditions compared with other festive celebrations.
She stressed the importance of passing down traditional customs and culture to the younger generation so they can be preserved, and that cultural exposure should begin at an early age.
During the event, Menteri Besar Dato' Seri Amirudin Shari delivered a speech in which he called on Selangor's residents to reject narrow, race-based politics raised by certain quarters in recent times.
He stressed that such political approaches, which give rise to disputes, bring no benefit to a society that values peace and harmony.
Ponggal, or the harvest festival, is celebrated by the Tamil community for four days beginning on Wednesday (January 14), the first day of the Tamil month of Thai. The term ‘Ponggal’ means “to overflow”, symbolising gratitude and harmony.
