On Monday 15 January, Stephen hosted a celebration of Thai Pongal and Tamil Heritage Month organised by the British Tamil Forum in Parliament.
Thai Pongal is a Hindu harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community. Thai is the tenth month of the Tamil calendar and usually falls between mid-January and mid-February. The period represents the beginning of the traditional harvest period, and Thai Pongal is celebrated to welcome the new yield.
The British Tamil Forum, which exists to represent the Tamil community within Britain, organises an annual celebration of Thai Pongal in Parliament supported by the All Parliamentary Group for Tamils. This year, Stephen hosted the event in the CPA room in Parliament, and he delivered a short speech to welcome guests.
Speaking after the event, Stephen said, “I was delighted to host such a joyous event. The Tamil community - with their long history and rich culture - enrich Britain, especially in my constituency of East Ham.”