The nonprofit association Bay Area Tamil Manram will host a large Pongal-themed celebration at Jain Temple in Milpitas Saturday. The event is open to the public.

 Jain Temple in Milpitas will host a Pongal celebration on Sat., Jan. 21. Credit Prabhu Venkatesh Subramanian

South Indians from all over the Bay Area will come together in Milpitas this Saturday for a large celebration known as  “Pongal Thiruvizha”.

The event will take place at the Jain Temple Auditorium,  722 S. Main St., beginning at 2 p.m. and is organized by the nonprofit association Bay Area Tamil Manram (BATM).

BATM was formed more than 30 years ago to promote the culture of Tamil Nadu, one of the 28 states of India, which lies in the southernmost part of the Indian peninsula. The region has been home to the Tamil people for thousands of years, dating back as far as 500 B.C.E., and is the birthplace of the Tamil language. The San Francisco Bay Area is home to a large population of Tamilians.

The festival this Saturday, Jan. 21, coincides with the traditional South Indian harvest festival known as “Pongal,” which marks the Winter Solstice.

Prabhu Venkatesh Subramanian, the current president of BATM, says this weekend’s festival will be a lively one, with friendly competitions and cultural events that will stretch into the evening.

The event is open to the public, and all are welcome.

For more information, visit  www.bayareatamilmanram.org

source: http://www.milpitas.patch.com / News> Arts> The Neighbourhood files> Local Connections / by Jennifer van der Kleut