The event held at VIT Vellore on 12th Jan 2025, was organised by the Office of Students’ Welfare in association with Bharathidasan Tamil Literary Club, and the School of Agriculture, and presided over by Founder & Chancellor Dr. G. Viswanathan. Guests were escorted to the Pongal village amid the resonant sounds of traditional instruments like thavil and nadaswaram. In keeping with Tamil traditions, the venue was adorned with colourful kolams, and the chancellor inaugurated the celebrations by adding fresh rice to a newly decorated pot for the Pongal preparation.

The programme featured captivating cultural performances by students, including karagattam, poikkal kuthirai attam, sevai attam, thevar attam, parai attam, periya melam and jikkattam, which enthralled the audience. A model Pongal village, curated by the agriculture department, depicted the five Tamil landscapes—kurinji, mullai, marutham, neythal and palai. The event also showcased various indigenous cattle breeds such as Gir, Kangayam, Alambad, and Bargur, alongside agricultural tools and traditional implements like ammi and ulakkai.

Folk singer Pushpavanam Kuppusamy graced the occasion as a special guest, energizing the students with renditions of popular film songs.

Dr. G. Viswanathan’s presidential address celebrated Tamil identity as a global bond, centered on the unifying festival of Pongal and the significance of Periyar Anna’s principles of ‘Duty, Dignity and Discipline’. He asserted that success and an exemplary life are achieved through excellent education and adherence to the Thirukkural, a universal moral guide whose philosophy of non-violence influenced global figures like Gandhi and Tolstoy. By linking ancient wisdom—such as Kaniyan Poongundranar’s 3,000-year-old vision of universal kinship—to modern globalization, the Chancellor emphasised that the ethical and cultural heritage of the Tamil people remains timelessly relevant across the world.

Subsequently, two handbooks from the agriculture department were released.

The event was attended by Vice President Mr. Sankar Viswanathan, Executive Director Dr. Sandhya Pentareddy, Assistant Vice President Ms. Kadhambari S. Viswanathan, Ms. Ramani Balasundaram, Vice Chancellor Dr. Kanchana Bhaaskaran, Pro Vice Chancellor Dr. Partha Sharathi Mallick, Registrar Dr. Jayabarathi T., Advisor to the Chancellor Dr. Krishnaswami Srihari, along with faculty, and students from other states and abroad.