Category Cultural Events

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai Celebrates Thai Pongal

Pongal, the four days long harvesting festival is celebrated as a thanksgiving event to thank the Sun God (Surya), Lord Indra, mother nature and farm animals that help in the harvest. It is celebrated in the month of January (Thai) during the solar equinoxIt is widely celebrated in Tamil Nadu and by Tamil people across the globe, during which the Sun is worshipped as the source of life, allowing for the growth of good harvest that provides food, prosperity, wealth & happiness. The Deputy High Commission organised the Pongal celebration on January 13, 2023 (Friday) at the Chancery premises with boiling of milk in a clay pot, preparation of sweet Pongal and performed pooja to invoke happiness, prosperity in abundance for the people of Sri Lanka. Mission staff and their family members participated at the event.

Christmas Celebrations 2022

The Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka for Southern India celebrated Christmas on December 16, 2022 at the Chancery premises. The Christmas message and the prayers were delivered by Rev. V. S. Vijayakumar. Mr. B. H. Abdul Hameed, world famous Tamil anchor was invited as a Special Guest by the Deputy High Commissioner Dr. D. Venkateshwaran. Lutheran Men’s Voice, an all male choir was invited as the Chief Guest for the event. The Mission invited teachers & students of C.S.I. Puthuir Special School in Chennai to share the joy of Christmas. Christmas Carols by invited students, Lutheran Men’s Voice, Mission staff and their family members were performed at the event.

Deepavali Celebrations -2022

Diwali, also known as the Festival of Lights, is a festival celebrated throughout India and worldwide by Hindu communities as well as by Jain and Sikh communities. During this festival, homes, temples and work spaces are illuminated with oil lamps, candles and lanterns. Diwali is also marked with fireworks and the decoration of floors with Kolam designs. Food is a major focus with families partaking in feasts and sharing sweets (mithai). The festival is an annual bonding period not only for families, but also for communities and associations. Marking this, Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Southern India had organized a Diwali Night on 28.10.2022 at the Chancery Premises. Staff and the family members of the Deputy High Commission, Bank of Ceylon, Srilankan Airlines in Chennai, Sri Lanka Friendship Association in Southern India, well-wishers, leading business figures and celibrities in Southern India participated this event. As this is the first public event organized by the Mission after the Covid-19 outbreak in Tamil Nadu, Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner, delivered a brief account on the progress that Mission has achieved since 2021. Additionally, he accepted a donation of books from S. Ve. Shekher, a South Indian actor, director, screenwriter and politician. Cultural events were performed by the staff and family members of Deputy High Commission and Bank of Ceylon. Event concluded with a dinner which included Sri Lankan and South Indian delicacies.

Ayudha Pooja -2022

Ayudha Pooja is a Hindu festival that is traditionally celebrated in India. It may be translated to “worship of Instruments”. In this festival, various types of equipment and tools including vehicles are revered by the people. This Puja is considered a meaningful custom, which focuses specific attention to one’s profession and its related tools and connotes that a divine force is working behind it to perform well and for getting the proper reward. Saraswati (the Goddess of wisdom, arts and literature), Lakshmi (the goddess of wealth) and Parvati (the divine mother), are also being worshipped in this pooja. Marking a blend between Sri Lankan and Indian cultures, Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai celebrated Ayudha Pooja on 07th October, 2022. In this Pooja, all vehicles and equipment used by the staff of the Deputy High Commission were revered.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai Celebrates Vesak

Remarking the birth, the enlightenment, and the passing away of Lord Buddha, Vesak (Buddha Punima) is widely celebrated in South and South East Asia, among the followers of Buddhism. Accordingly, Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, celebrated Vesak festival on 15th May, 2022 at the Chancery premises, with the participation of the Mission staff. Under the invitation of Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner, Ven. Buddawansalankara thero (Ven. Gauthama Mauriyar thero) of Rameshwaram, also participated the Celebration and preformed a special Bodhi pooja, well-wishing Sri Lanka and people.

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai Celebrates Thai Pongal

Pongal is a four days long festival, which celebrates to thank the Sun, Mother Nature and the various farm animals that help to contribute to a bountiful harvest. The festival falls every year in the month of January when crops such as rice, sugarcane, turmeric etc. are harvested. The second day of the celebration, known as ‘Thai Pongal’, is dedicated to the Hindu god ‘Surya’ (the Sun). It is widely celebrated in Southern India, thanking the ‘Surya’, and marking the prosperity, wealth & happiness. Marking the prosperity, wealth & happiness for Sri Lanka and all the staff of the Mission, the Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, celebrated Thai Pongal in the morning of 12th January, 2022 at the Chancery premises. All the auspicious formalities were performed by Dr. D. Venkateshwaran, the Deputy High Commissioner and Mrs. Venkateshwaran, his Spouse, at this occasion. Mission staff and their family members were also participated at the event and was concluded with a reception with traditional South Indian delicacies.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai
13.12.2022

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission in Chennai Celebrates Christmas

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka in Chennai, with the message of peace, celebrated Christmas on 21st December 2021 at the Chancery premises. The message of god and the prayers were delivered by Rev. Manova Santhosham, Pastor and Chairman, Egmore Wesley Church and Rev. R. L. Richardson, Pastor and Presbyter, St. Mary’s Church at St. George Fort. Mission has invited teachers & students of C.S.I. Higher Secondary School for the Deaf in Chennai to share the joy of Christmas. As Christmas gifts, essential materials and equipment were donated to C.S.I. Higher Secondary School, with the financial assistance of the Mission Staff. Christmas Carols, dancing items by invited student, Mission staff and their family members were performed at the event and was concluded with a delicious dinner hosted by the Mission.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai
27.12.2021

Deepavali Celebrations -2021

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission celebrated Deepavali on 22nd October 2021 at the Chancery premises. Deepavali is widely celebrated all over Sri Lanka as well as India and is a festival that celebrates the triumph of good over evil. Deepavali is also known as the festival of lights. The entire Chancery premises were illuminated with colorful lights, glowing oil lamps, vibrant colours of rangoli and floral décor. Various cultural events depicting Sri Lankan as well as Indian arts forms were performed at the event by the Mission staff and their family members.

Deputy High Commission of Sri Lanka
Chennai

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission celebrated “Ayudha Pooja”

Sri Lanka Deputy High Commission celebrated Ayudha Pooja today at the Mission premises. Divine blessings over the Mission and its staff were beseeched during this event.