PONNONAM-2013 at Hindustan
University
Hindustan University celebrated PONNONAM - 2013 on 7th
September 2013 at MGR Hall. Renowned
Film Actor Mr. Ashokan was the Chief Guest on the occasion. Dr. Mrs Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Hindustan University presided over the
function. The programme commenced with the
traditional lighting of lamp and ONAM song performed by students.
In her message
to the gathering, Dr. Mrs Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Hindustan University
expressed her whole-hearted happiness and appreciated the students for having
brought life to the celebration of PONNONAM 2013. She thanked all the organizers
(especially students) for having retained the tradition and culture of the year
old festival and also urged the baton of celebrating spirit and zeal to be
passed-on to subsequent batches in the same manner.
The Chief Guest,
Mr. Ashokan, Actor, Malayalam Film Industry started his speech with high
appreciations to the students and organizers for having made him part of this
unforgettable moment of celebration. He
felt witnessing a celebration of ONAM festival in Kerala at Hindustan University. He also appreciated the
efforts the students have put in making pookalam (traditional rangoli made
with flower petals). Adding to this, he
said students have done extremely well to prepare and maintain pookalam in its
true and rich form matching to the good old form. Further, he was amazed to see
the traditional thiruvathirakali and sinkarimelam – for which he felt, has elevated
the rich culture of Keralam once again.
He concluded his speech expressing his gratitude to Chancellor for the
opportunity to witness and be part of this grandeour. The Chief Guest was felicitated with the traditional
ponnada (folded traditional silk cloth, generally placed around
shoulders of honoree) by Dr. Mrs Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Hindustan University. The morning programme ended
with“ ONAM SADYA”- a traditional
kerala lunch .
In the
post-lunch session, students performed the traditional Kerala sports viz. kummiyadi
and vadamvali
to mark the festive-galore amongst all present.
The festival was celebrated by around 1000 plus students.
Dr. A. Joseph Stanley,Director(Academics), Dr.
Pon Ramalingam,( Registrar), Brig. Dr. Ravi Verman (Retd.), Dean (Administration),
Mr. Santhosh Verghese, (Special Office), Mr. Abraham Alex,( Campus Manager),
Dr. Dilip Shah,(HOD, Dept of Aeronautical Engg) and other distinguished members
also participated in the celebration. The programme was concluded with National
Anthem.