DANDENONG STAR JOURNAL
Home » Celebrating a good harvest

Celebrating a good harvest

Ceremonial dancers at the Pongal harvest festival. (Supplied)

Basking in sunshine, about 200 celebrated a Pongal harvest festival in Harmony Square, Dandenong on Sunday 18 January.

Victorian Tamil Cultural Association staged the 32nd annual event, featuring drumming, dancing and a ceremonial rice pot. It was the first time it was held in Harmony Square.

VTCA secretary and founder Wicki Wickiramasingham said the festival was an important celebration of successful food harvests, which depend on favourable sun and rains.

Similar harvest festivals were traditionally held in a range of nations and cultures.

Among the VIPs were Bruce MP and Multicultural Affairs Assistant Minister Julian Hill, Dandenong MP Gabrielle Williams, South Eastern Metropolitan MP Lee Talarmis and Greater Dandenong mayor Sophie Tan.

Digital Editions

  • Soil clean-up wait continues

    Soil clean-up wait continues

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 522112 A giant asbestos-riddled soil mound in Bangholme’s Green Wedge still remains, despite an order for its removal by…

More News

  • Road-safety first for schools

    Road-safety first for schools

    Casey Council has released a national-first road safety guide aimed at reducing child pedestrian injuries around schools. A Practical Guide to Safer School Precincts was launched at the newly-opened Kala…

  • Celebrating a good harvest

    Celebrating a good harvest

    Basking in sunshine, about 200 celebrated a Pongal harvest festival in Harmony Square, Dandenong on Sunday 18 January. Victorian Tamil Cultural Association staged the 32nd annual event, featuring drumming, dancing…

  • OPINION: The back-to-school survival guide for working mums

    OPINION: The back-to-school survival guide for working mums

    So, you survived Christmas and are limping to the finishing line as school holidays come to a close. You are expected to be ‘refreshed’ as you return to work, yet…

  • OPINION: How should Victorians celebrate Australia Day this year?

    OPINION: How should Victorians celebrate Australia Day this year?

    Purchase this photo from Pic Store: 434368 It is 2026, and Australia remains the only Commonwealth country without a national treaty with its Indigenous peoples. Other settler nations, such as…

  • Hunt for Casey’s most wanted

    Hunt for Casey’s most wanted

    Crime Stoppers Victoria has announced a blitz on Casey’s eight most wanted people. Collectively, they are wanted on 60 arrest warrants for offences including car theft, burglary, drugs and skipping…