Our Pongal celebrations at Kovai.co began a whole week earlier setting the tone for the days ahead. This year, we decided to celebrate Pongal in a slightly different way. Instead of limiting it to one day, we enjoyed it for two days.
Starting with Art: The Mini Pot Painting Workshop
The week began with an artistic workshop that added a traditional touch to our Pongal celebrations. The pot painting session was led by Sai Dheepika, Senior Growth Marketer, who guided the session and kept it engaging. We worked with small pots that everyone could decorate, and each piece slowly took on its own personality. Some were painted in bright colours, a few had minimalist designs while others followed traditional patterns.
We also mixed basic colours to create new shades while sharing brushes, ideas, and opinions throughout the activity. There were moments of walking around, admiring others’ pots, and helping friends with small finishing details.
Varsini Ramesh, Intern, says,
The pot painting workshop during our Pongal celebration felt less like an activity and more like a moment. With a randomly chosen pot and no expectations, I let the colours guide me. As I painted a playful cat and rabbit, I became fully immersed, and the stress slowly faded away. What I once thought I couldn’t do turned into something unexpectedly beautiful, leaving me with a cute pot and a genuinely happy heart.
Moving the Celebrations Outdoors
Day two of the celebrations took place the next day, with all of us dressed in ethnic wear and assembling outside our office. It was our first Pongal celebration outdoors. The open space, cool breeze, and evening light made it feel special and welcoming.
Pongal Traditional Games
The games began with the classic sack race, a favourite from childhood. Watching colleagues hop towards the finish line brought laughter and loud cheers. Next came the tyre-and-stick game. The goal was to balance a thin tyre and roll it forward using only a stick until the finish line.
Pongal feels incomplete without sugarcane, and we made sure it had its place. The sugarcane-breaking challenge tested both speed and strength. Our people had to break long sugarcane sticks into smaller pieces as quickly as possible. Lakshmanan Loganathan, from the Migration team, stood out by finishing the task faster than the rest.
Uriyadi: Laughter at Every Turn
One of the most awaited games was Uriyadi. In simple terms, it involves breaking a hanging pot using a stick while blindfolded. The person hitting the pot depends entirely on instructions from teammates. Opposing voices try to confuse them, making it harder to aim correctly. At one point, the stick broke before the pot did, which left everyone laughing. Several people took turns, and by the end, five or six pots were successfully broken.
Pranap Sivadasan, Senior Software Engineer Frontend, says,
Celebrating Pongal at the office felt nostalgic! It had been a long time since I played traditional Pongal games, taking part in Uriyadi as the attacker added extra excitement. The laughter, friendly competition, and cultural warmth created a wonderful break from our daily routine and reminded me how special it is to celebrate traditions together at work.
Ending Strong with Tug of War
The final game of the day was the ever-popular tug of war. Multiple teams competed, pulling with full energy and loud support from the sidelines. This year, we also had a round where our women employees participated. The match drew equal excitement and strong encouragement from everyone watching.
Sweet Pongal and Closing the Celebration
After the games, we gathered to share Sweet Pongal. It marked the harvest season and symbolised gratitude to the Sun for the growth of our crops and abundant energy.
The celebration ended with full hearts, smiles, and memories. It reminded us that simple traditions, when celebrated together, create lasting connections.
Check out our celebrations video!
#TogetherWeGrow
