Rice, dancing and music were the order of the day in a council chamber to celebrate the moving of the sun.
The Thai Pongal festival, a traditional south Indian event to celebrate the sun’s journey north, took place in Harrow Council Chamber.
The chamber, normally a place of officialdom, was transformed into an arena for traditional dancing, music and food for the event.
More than 170 enjoyed the celebrations, which included performances from local children. Traditional instruments were played and crowds enjoyed eating pongal, a dish made of rice and milk.
Councillor Krishna Suresh, who helped to organise the festival on behalf of the Harrow Tamil community, said: “It was so lovely and everybody really enjoyed it. We wanted to share the event with other communities so they could see the Tamil culture – and it was a success. I’m really pleased.
“It was very lively, especially when the tabla drums and clarinet played to welcome in the Mayor of Harrow, councillor Mrinal Choudhury.
“We wanted other ethnic communities in Harrow to experience the Tamil celebration.
“Thai Pongal is a harvest festival where, during January, the villagers, as soon as they have harvested the paddy fields, cook the rice in thanksgiving.
“Traditionally the celebration lasts three days back home and we should be cooking outside in the morning at sunrise with the pot on the ground.”
He said he organised the event to ensure younger members of the Tamil community had a chance to experience their roots and to introduce other communities to the Tamil culture.