The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Pongal festivities colour city

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jan 17, 2007
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Pongal festivities colour city

Staff Reporter

The Marina has worn a festive look over the past few days

SPREADING THE MESSAGE: A sand sculpture by Sudarshan Patnaik on the Marina gives out a social service message about HIV/AIDS on Tuesday. — Photo: K.V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI: Chennai, this year, seemed to have stepped up public celebrations with its Pongal festivities.

The government ushered in the festive spirit by lighting up a number of its buildings on the Marina beachfront. The Chennai Corporation's `kolam' competitions and a sand sculpture by renowned artist Sudarshan Patnaik from Orissa, who is in city courtesy the Chennai Port Trust, added colour to the festivities.

On Monday, the Chennai Corporation gave away prizes to winners of the `kolam' contest. Women from self-help groups and non-government organisations, school and college students, organisers of `Arivoli Iyakkam' and teachers of special schools for child labourers participated.

The winners included Tulasi Women's Welfare Association, Gayathri and Sujatha Prakasam SHG and Nirmala Nadukkupam SHG. The Governor's daughter-in-law, Roop Sandhu, and granddaughter, Ayesha Sandhu, won a special prize.

City Mayor M. Subramanian, Corporation Commissioner Rajesh Lakhoni and senior officials participated.

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