Our Automotive team in India recently celebrated Pongal – a Hindu harvest festival that marks the beginning of the month called Thai and is celebrated by people with ties to Tamil Nadu, India.

Lasting for four days, Pongal involves new beginnings, giving thanks, and strengthening communal ties. People often gather together for festive meals, which includes boiling pots of pongal – a traditional mix of rice and milk.

To celebrate, our colleagues played a traditional pot-breaking game called Uriyadi. In this game, participants are blindfolded and spun around several times before trying to break a suspended clay pot with a stick while observers cheer and music plays. Mr. Gnanaprakasam, Manufacturing Coach, and Ms. Abinaya, Production Associate, successfully broke the pot!

The team also made pongal and created rangoli – beautiful floor patterns created from rice flour.

A couple of our colleagues shared their thoughts on the celebration:

Susi: “As an employee, I appreciate this time to recharge and reconnect with loved ones, strengthening the sense of community. It is a time to celebrate progress while cherishing the roots of our culture. I look forward to positively contributing to the year ahead.”

Monika: “We often juggle multiple roles, both at work and at home. During Pongal, we honor our role in contributing to both the economy and our families. The festival reminds me of the resilience of women who continue to balance their careers, responsibilities, and traditions.”