Thai Pongal celebration
Newham Council has pledged to support the annual Thai Pongal celebration as part of its newly recognised Tamil Heritage Month.
Newham Council unanimously recognised January as Tamil Heritage Month in October 2026, following a motion proposed by Councillor Arshan Baskaran and seconded by Councillor Anand Kumar. As part of this, the council has pledged to support the annual Thai Pongal celebration, a harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community.
This decision acknowledges the deep-rooted presence of the Tamil community in areas like Manor Park and East Ham, and their significant contributions across various sectors. The council's recognition means January will now be formally dedicated to celebrating the community's heritage.
Key facts
- Newham Council recognised January as Tamil Heritage Month in October 2026. Source
- Newham Council pledged to support the annual Thai Pongal celebration. Source
- The motion was proposed by Councillor Arshan Baskaran and seconded by Councillor Anand Kumar. Source
- The motion was unanimously carried at a council meeting. Source
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.