Photo: Aphiraa Gowry

By Yalini Rajakulasingam (Member of Thamilachi Power Organizing Team)

Residents in Batticaloa and Trinco took part in festivities this month celebrating the Tamil festival of Thai Pongal. 

Thai Pongal was celebrated with UK MPs and British Tamils at the Houses of Parliament last week.

Cultural performances accompanied words of support from British MPs from all three major parties at the event hosted by the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tamils and the British Tamils Forum.

The Thai Pongal day greeting of UK Prime Minister Theresa May was played at the event, and opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn also sent in a message to be read out.

The Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau, celebrated Thai Pongal with the Tamil community at an event in Toronto on Tuesday.

Residents and kite enthusiasts gathered at Valvettithurai Uthayasooriyan coast on Sunday to enjoy the Thai Pongal kite competition. 

Tamils across the world celebrate Thai Pongal today, at the beginning of the Tamil month of 'Thai' 

Our warmest Thai Pongal wishes to Tamils everywhere. ?????????? ?????? ?????? ????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????????.

The Tamil festival of lights known as Karthikai Deepam or Karthikai Villakkeedu was celebrated in the North-East this weekend.

Photographs: TYO Canada

The Tamil Youth Organization – Canada hosted the 7^th annual Kilithattu tournament Canada in partnership with the Canadian Tamil Sports Association in Toronto last month, bringing together crowds from across generations to take part in the national game of Tamil Eelam.

Muslims across the North-East celebrated Eid-al-Adha on Friday and Saturday.

Young Tamil artists from across Europe last month remembered the 1983 pogrom against the Tamils, Black July with an exhibition at the City University in London. 

The exhibition, which was organised by the Tamil Youth Organisation UK, featured artists from the UK, France, Germany, Switzerland and Denmark.