Teacher introduces Pongal celebration to rural SK Nanga Embuau (Video)

SONG (Feb 15): Celebrating Pongal far from home has become a deeply meaningful and heartwarming experience for Pirasanakumar Vijaiyan, who recently organised the first-ever Pongal celebration at SK Nanga Embuau here.

The 27-year-old teacher from Baling, Kedah, has been serving in Sarawak for the past seven months and is currently the only Indian teacher at the rural school.

“In my hometown in Kedah, Pongal is usually celebrated on a grand scale, with family members gathering early in the morning, cooking Pongal together, decorating the house with colourful kolams and offering prayers to express gratitude for a bountiful harvest.

“Being far from my family in Sarawak, especially in a rural area like Song, the celebration naturally feels different. However, it is equally special because of the warmth and support from my colleagues, students and the local community,” he said when contacted.

SK Nanga Embuau, which has 16 teachers and 56 pupils, is located in a remote area with no road access, where transportation is only possible by boat.

Pirasanakumar said organising the celebration came with significant challenges, particularly due to the lack of traditional items such as sugarcane, turmeric plants and clay pots.

“The Indian community here is extremely small. In fact, there is only one Indian family living in this area, and I am the only Indian teacher in the school.

“To make this celebration possible, I had to bring all the necessary items from Peninsular Malaysia, specifically from Kedah, by flight and then transport them by boat. It required early planning and a lot of flexibility,” he explained.

Despite the challenges, he said the celebration was carefully planned over a three-month period and successfully carried out to introduce the school community to Indian culture, traditions and festive values.

He also trained the pupils in traditional Indian dance to perform during the celebration.

“The essence of Pongal lies in gratitude, not in the availability of materials. This celebration is about thanking God and nature for the blessings we receive,” he said.

He also highlighted similarities between Pongal and Gawai Dayak, the harvest festival celebrated by the Dayak community in Sarawak.

“Both Pongal and Gawai Dayak centre on thanksgiving for a successful harvest, prosperity, and strengthening family and community bonds.

“While the rituals may differ, the core values of gratitude, unity and respecting nature are the same,” he added.

He said students were introduced not only to Pongal as a harvest festival, but also to values such as cooperation, respect for nature and togetherness which align with the Ministry of Education Malaysia’s aspiration to nurture students who appreciate cultural diversity.

“Although it was the first time Pongal was celebrated at SK Nanga Embuau, the response from students, teachers and the local community was overwhelmingly positive.

“I truly hope this celebration will continue in the coming years with better planning and on a larger scale. More importantly, I hope it serves as a reminder of Malaysia’s beautiful multicultural harmony,” he said.