Chennai: This Pongal festival at Sivan Park, K K Nagar, will be different. Visitors can take selfies in the backdrop of thennai olai thoranam. Apart from it, there will be spectacular lighting arrangements.
The four-day festival from 14 January will be inaugurated by Virugambakkam MLA V N Ravi at 5 pm. The festival is being organised by former Councillor M Gunasekaran in coordination with Tamilnadu Senior Citizens Association and Sivan Park Walkers.
“This is the seventh year we are conducting the festival. Each time, the response from the visitors is overwhelming. So, we want to make the festival more attractive this year. Two photo shoot spots with thennai olai thoranam backdrop will be set up in the park, where visitors can take photos. It is being done by art directors from the film industry,” said Gunasekaran.
“The entire park will be illuminated during the festival days, from 6 pm to 10 pm. This time, it will be grander as we are using high-voltage LED serial lights as power consumption is low,” he said, and added that special programmes have been arranged to entertain visitors.
On the first day, after formal inauguration, pongal will be distributed to all in the park, the former Councillor said.
On Maatu Pongal Day, a cow will be brought to the park. Special pooja will be performed and pongal will be given to it, apart from gifts. State Ministers are expected to participate, he added.
As thousands of people visit the park during the four-day celebrations, elaborate security arrangements will be made. “Policemen will be present and our volunteers will be there to help visitors,” Gunasekaran said.
“Around 40 policemen will be present during the festival days in the park. Though there are CCTV cameras inside the park, we have asked the organisers to put up five to six temporary cameras at the entrance to keep track on peoples’ movement,” said R7 Police Inspector (L&O) S Balamurali.
| The schedule |
| A special stage will be set up on the eastern side of the park for the four-day celebrations from 5 pm to 9 pm. They are: 14 Jan – Humourous debate by TV fame Madurai Muthu 15 Jan – Rural folk art programme by Madurai Ambalanathan 16 Jan – Musical nite by Vijay TV Super Singer winners Ajith and Yazhini 17 Jan – Cinema entertainment programme by B Senthil |