Residents celebrate Pongal along Korattur lake to raise awareness

Chennai: Clad in traditional dhotis and saris and carrying clay pots and sugarcane stalks, residents, silambam artistes, and jallikattu bulls went on a rally along Korattur lake bund on Sunday morning to celebrate ‘Eri Pongal', symbolizing a collective effort to protect the waterbody.United for the transformation of the 594-acre lake into a bird sanctuary, the participants held up placards and raised slogans after the rally, and cooked pongal in five pots to mark the occasion.
"This is the eighth year we are doing this. The lake has faced several issues, from encroachment to pollution, and even residents have turned a blind eye. People need to be consistently reminded of the issues plaguing the lake. This festival does just that," said Sekaran, president of Korattur Lake Protection People Movement.Cultural programmes were also held on the occasion. "Kolam contests and musical chair game were the main attraction. Extempores were held for students from corporation schools in the city. The festival is like a second Pongal for us, it carries a purpose," said V Balan, a resident of Korattur agraharam.Sekaran said one of the highlights of the event was the launch of a website for the Korattur lake protection people movement. "Every year, we do something unique. Last year, a document on birds was released," he added.