A multicultural Pongal celebration in Pittsburgh celebrates Tamil identity

^{From left to right: Ernest Rajakone, Pennsylvania State Representative Arvind Venkat, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innomorato, Kelir Books’ WeAreTamilToo Founder Persis Naumann, and Congresswoman Summer Lee.} 

Pongal Sangamam, hosted by Kelir Books’ We Are Tamil Too (WATT) and the Fulbright Association in the United States, was a vibrant celebrated linguistic and cultural diversity centered around Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival in Pittsburg last month.

The event created a platform for sharing Tamil heritage, fostering intercultural exchange, and strengthening community ties in the city.

It was a privilege to honor Congresswoman Summer Lee at the event for being one of the original co-sponsors this year of Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi's bipartisan resolution designating January as Tamil Language and Heritage Month. Coinciding with Pongal, this resolution celebrates the invaluable contributions of the Tamil community to the United States across generations.

^{Congresswoman Summer Lee gave an inspiring speech about the importance of committing to a future where no child goes hungry, no farmer struggles, and no community is torn by war.}

Congresswoman Summer Lee has been a steadfast ally of the Tamil people. She has tirelessly championed Tamil rights, advocating for U.S. engagement with Sri Lanka, prioritizing human rights and civil society. Additionally, she was also an original co-sponsor of H.Res.1230, a historic resolution introduced in the U.S. Congress recognizing the Tamil Genocide in Sri Lanka on Tamil Genocide Remembrance Day. Her presence at Pongal Sangamam reaffirmed her unwavering commitment to justice and recognition for Tamil communities in the U.S. and globally.

^{Sara Innamorato, Allegheny County Executive, presented the WeAreTamilToo team with a proclamation acknowledging WATT championing Tamil heritage by promoting cultural exchange, inclusive storytelling, and heritage language preservation for future generations.}

The Pongal event was joined by several prominent local officials, including Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, who presented a proclamation honoring the Tamil community for their contributions to Western Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Supreme Court Justice Cynthia Baldwin (ret.) also spoke, sharing her inspiring journey and emphasizing the significant impact of the Fulbright program in fostering global collaboration and mutual understanding. Other keynote speakers included Dr. Allyson Delnore (University of Pittsburgh), Fr. Peter Osuji (Duquesne University), and Dr. Richelle Bernazzoli (Carnegie Mellon University).

Pennsylvania State Representative Arvind Venkat shared his personal connection to Tamil heritage.  Representative Venkat is the first and only member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly from a Tamil background, and his presence underscored the importance of cultural representation in leadership and public service.

^{Selva Priya Sahadevan, owner of Getitfromnature Arts, showcased her artistry with a live painting demonstration featuring a cow, symbolizing Maatu Pongal.}

Ernest Rajakone, who currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff for Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, spoke in his personal capacity as to what a Tamil American identity means to him. In his remarks, he spoke of connecting with Tamil culture growing up in rural America and how his identity as an Eelam Tamil has profoundly shaped his experience as an American. Mr. Rajakone, who previously served as the U.S. Advocacy Officer for PEARL (People for Equality and Relief in Lanka), closed by speaking to how being Tamil was more than just ideas of personal identity, but was about, “doing [our] part in the diaspora, so one day our people can live with peace and dignity in the homeland” and striving as a community towards “shaping a future for all of us.”

 ^{Harshitha Ramanan moderated the panel discussion on “Multicultural Tamilar in Multicultural America: The Future We Want.” Young Panelists including Anjali Rabindran, Kamal Imaya, Tovia Marcus, and Manelin Rajan from diverse intra- and inter-Tamil backgrounds discussed what it can look like to be a part of an intergenerational, intercultural, and multilingual journey to a more inclusive and connected Pittsburgh for all.} 

A key component was a panel discussion titled Multicultural Tamilar in Multicultural America: The Future We Want, featuring perspectives of 5 young adult panelists from diverse intra- and inter-Tamil background. Anjali Rabindran shared her experience reconciling her Eelam Tamil heritage with other cultural influences. She highlighted the challenges of growing up with a distinct dialect, often told by others outside the Eelam Tamil community that her Tamil was "wrong." She found a strong connection with the global Eelam Tamil community through social media, particularly TikTok. Anjali also reflected on the diaspora identity crisis—growing up uncertain whether to identify as Sri Lankan, Tamil, or both. Over time, she embraced her identity as an Eelam Tamil, a struggle that resonates with many diaspora communities.
The We Are Tamil Too (WATT) volunteer program has been instrumental in promoting community engagement among high school and college students. Through opportunities to organize cultural events, lead discussions, and contribute to impactful projects, WATT helps young volunteers develop leadership skills, gain a deeper understanding of Tamil heritage, and strengthen their sense of community. Many participants have discovered that their involvement also boosts their academic and professional growth, providing valuable experience in event planning, networking, and advocacy.

^{Persis Naumann, founder of Kelir Books & WeAreTamilToo, delivered a speech alongside her daughter, Zara Shanthi Naumann, discussing the importance of respecting representation and diversity within the Tamil community.} 

Pongal Sangamam was enriched with dynamic cultural performances and interactive activities, including a Kuthu folk dance workshop, traditional Kolam art, and an array of authentic Tamil cuisine such as Sakkarai Pongal and Medu Vada. Local South Indian artist Selva Priya Sahadevan added to the festivities with a live painting demonstration depicting Maatu Pongal, a tribute to the deep-rooted Tamil connection to agriculture.

^{Radio Dhool RJ Prassanna Selvaraj, Sreevaishnavi Selvaraj, Gopika Manigandan, and Jayaraman Hariharan presented Kuthu Dance.}

The success of this event was made possible by the dedicated efforts of WATT Founder, Persis Naumann, the Pitt Global Hub, and an inspiring team of young student leaders from University of Pittsburgh & Duquesne University, including Anjali Rabindran, Kamal Imaya, Harshitha Ramanan, Tovia Marcus, Nikitha Vasudevan, and Manelin Rajan. Their commitment, alongside the invaluable support of the Fulbright Association, played a crucial role in bringing this celebration to life.