Pongal Open House 2023 at Indian Heritage Centre

Celebrate the harvest at the Indian Heritage Centre this Pongal, a harvest festival to give thanks for a bountiful harvest.

Venue: Indian Heritage Centre
Dates: 7, 8, 14 and 15 Jan 2023, 10 am - 5 pm
Admission: Free

Traditionally observed over four days, Pongal is a harvest festival to give thanks for a bountiful harvest. This year, the IHC Pongal Open House welcomes everyone to join in the festivities with an exciting array of programmes.

Themed Farm-tastic, this year’s open house takes visitors back to the festival’s agricultural roots with trails, workshops and activities for the entire family. Let's take a look at what we can expect! 

Free Pongal Craft Activities & Photobooth

Commemorate Pongal with your own personalised stationery! From printing intricate kolam designs on notebooks to designing your own cow fridge magnets, let your creativity flow! Get your picture printed instantly against our special Pongal backdrop and decorate the frame with stickers of your choice.

Live Street Performances

Time: 11 am - 12 pm and 4 pm - 5 pm

Discover the essence of Pongal through interactive performances that showcase different traditions and practices of the festival through traditional folk dances and songs. Part of the segment will require audience participation, so get ready to join in the fun!

Free Pongal Tasting

Time: 12 pm - 12.30 pm

Curious about what the pongal dish tastes like? You're in for a treat as free pongal will be distributed while stocks last. Head down to IHC and try this traditional rice dish for yourself!

Tanjore Art Workshop

Time: 1 pm - 4 pm
Admission: $10 (Register)

Tanjore paintings are known for their extravagant depictions of deities with the use of vibrant colours and embellishments. Try your hand at creating your very own Tanjore masterpiece.

Kids Pongal Storytelling & Craft Session

Time: 2 pm - 3.30 pm
Admission: $10 (Register)

Join this storytelling session as Grandma explains the significance of the four different days of Pongal to her granddaughter. With guided craft and brainstorming activities, and dances to follow along to, learn more about Pongal through this interactive session.

Farm-to-Table Experience

Dates & Time: 12 & 13 Jan, 6.30 pm - 8.30 pm
Admission: $20 (Register)

Enjoy a sumptuous vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf as our host, Joyce, explains the significance of the dishes served and the importance they hold for Pongal.

Little India Heritage Trail - Pongal Edition

Dates & Time: 14 & 15 Jan, 11 am - 12.30 pm
Admission: $10 (Register)

Learn about the significance of the cattle in the Pongal festival though this trail around the historic Little India precinct. Get a taste of the early days of the precinct when it was bustling with cattle and bullock carts, and find out how Buffalo Road, Kerbau Road and Belilios Lane got their names.

Kranji Farm Tour

Dates & Time: 14 & 15 Jan, 9 am - 1 pm & 2 pm - 6 pm
Admission: $15 (Register)

Enjoy a retreat in nature with hands-on experiences in the art of jaggery (unrefined cane sugar) making and thoranam (hanging decorations) weaving, amongst other fun activities. This cultural farm tour will whisk you away from the bustle of the city to bask in the essence of Pongal.

Pongal Cooking Workshop

Dates & Time: 14 & 15 Jan, 10 am - 11 am
Admission: $10 (Register)

Get in the Pongal spirit by learning to make the pongal dish the traditional way – outdoors and with an open fire. Learn about the nuances of the ingredients that go into making pongal, just like how it’s been done for generations.