THANJAVUR, INDIA, January 14, 2007: Putting an end to untouchability and establishing an egalitarian society should be the aim of people while celebrating Pongal, S.N.M. Ubayathullah, Minister for Commercial Taxes, said here on Saturday. He participated in the ‘Samathuva Pongal’ celebrated at Tamil University. There should be no discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, color and religion. Every person should develop love and affection towards others. “I celebrate Pongal with my friends as a communal harmony day,” Mr. Ubayathullah said. Untouchability was severe in the past and Mahatma Gandhi fought relentlessly against it. “Even now it is present in some places. We should completely eradicate it from our society,” Mr. Ubayathullah said. Vallalar also tried to evolve a casteless society he added.
Earlier, students of Tamil University performed Thappattam, Karagattam and Kummi. Folk singer ‘Paravai’ Muniamma, who was invited for a folk program, joined the students and performed Kummi. The students cooked Pongal in front of Karikal Cholan Auditorium and served it to all. The auditorium was decorated with sugarcane, garlands, turmeric and ginger saplings. The university Vice-Chancellor, C. Subramaniam, made an appeal to all boys to wear dhoties and girls, saries for the next Pongal celebration.