A COMMUNITY gathered together to celebrate an annual harvest festival with food and dance.

Now in its third year, the Tamil community came together to celebrate the Hindu festival of Thai Pongal at the Eastwood Community Centre on Saturday.

Pongal is a harvest festival celebrated all around the world by Tamil people, an ethnic group which traces back to the Tamil Nadu region of India.

In the Tamil language the word Pongal means “overflowing,” signifying abundance and prosperity.

The colourful festival is an opportunity to give thanks to nature for providing everything to fulfil people’s needs.

With plenty of traditional food being served, children took it in turns to perform dances for a captive audience as part of the festive celebrations.

There were also musical performances to enjoy.

The festival celebrations were organised by the Tamil Education and Cultural Association of Southend.

One of their main aims is to teach children the language of their parents as an additional language along with fine arts and foster values of Tamil culture.

The organisation also aims to support everyone in the community with their needs.

To find out more about Tamil Education and Cultural Association, visit www.tamiled.co.uk/aboutus.