Celebrating Differences, Embracing Similarities, and Bridging Inter-Cultural Belonging: A Tamil and American Fulbright Thanksgiving & Pongal Story
As proud Fulbright alumni, we had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with fellow Fulbright scholars in Chennai in 2022 to organize a two-part event deeply rooted in the Fulbright Program’s mission of fostering cultural exchange. Working alongside the inspiring girls of Jeevaratchanai (a local NGO dedicated to empowering girl children who do not have parents or whose single parents are striving to overcome difficult environments to care for them), we took part in a series of engaging activities that shared the rich traditions and vibrant heritage of both the United States and Tamil Nadu through our respective harvest festivals. With every activity, we highlighted the similarities between the native American and ancient Tamil harvest festivals and traditions rooted in agriculture, nature, and community — discussing how they have evolved over time and shaped the way interreligious and intercultural communities celebrate today. As many U.S. Fulbright Scholars are not with their own families on Thanksgiving, this was a unique way to connect with our Chennai community during the shared experience of the Fulbright Program. This event celebrated both American and Tamil cultures, creating a platform for meaningful dialogue and shared experiences between communities.
The first part of the event took place in November during American Thanksgiving, a key American holiday that honors gratitude and the seasonal harvest. We began the session by reading children’s books about Native American history, the origins of Thanksgiving, and how it is celebrated in the U.S. This was followed by a series of engaging activities that connected Thanksgiving with Tamil traditions, providing an interactive way for children to understand the shared themes of gratitude, community, and agriculture that are upheld in both cultures.
One of the standout activities was drawing Turkey birds in the traditional Kolam style, a beautiful geometric art form from Tamil Nadu. A Kolam is an intricate design made with white and colored rice flour. This creative fusion of American Thanksgiving symbolism and Tamil artistic expression was a vivid example of how two cultures can come together in a creative way. Another highlight was an exciting collaboration of Western Classical music and South Indian Carnatic music, where we blended both traditions to create a fusion song (an American Thanksgiving song coupled with Carnatic rhythmic elements) that celebrated cultural diversity. Children also participated in crafting hand turkeys, which are popular to create in the U.S. during Thanksgiving. The children wrote what they were most thankful for on the hand turkeys, reflecting the core theme of Thanksgiving — giving thanks for the people and blessings in our lives. To conclude the event, we shared a traditional Thanksgiving meal, enjoying the warmth of the season and building friendships over good food and good conversation
The second part of our cultural exchange took place in January, during the celebration of Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival. Like Thanksgiving, Pongal is rooted in themes of gratitude for the harvest and the community. The children of Jeevaratchanai took the lead in sharing the traditions of this important Tamil heritage with the Fulbright scholars.
The activities during the Pongal event were a vibrant display of Tamil culture. We began with a performance of Silambatam, a traditional martial art, and Parai, known as the people’s music, a Dalit art form of drumming integral to Tamil people and festivals. These performances not only showcased Tamil heritage but also brought together Fulbright scholars and children in a shared experience of cultural expression. The children and Fulbright scholars then came together to create a large festive kolam—symbolizing unity and prosperity.
As part of the Pongal celebration, we made the Tamil dish Pongal in a traditional clay pot, offering the rice as a symbol of thanks for the harvest. Sugarcanes, a staple of the season, were shared among all, while the delicious Pongal meal, a mix of traditional sweet and savory dishes, brought the group together in celebration. The event concluded with an exuberant dance party, where everyone came together to celebrate through music and movement.
The theme of the event —”Bringing communities together by sharing America’s & Tamil Nadu’s diverse cultures and histories through music, dance, sports, and food; celebrating the differences and embracing the similarities”— was brought to life through every activity, conversation, and shared experience. The event was a beautiful representation of the Fulbright Program’s mission to promote mutual understanding and intercultural respect.
For the U.S. Fulbright Scholars, this was an opportunity to share traditions, connect with the children of Jeevaratchanai, and learn about traditions with which they may not have been familiar. The novel fusion of Tamil and American cultures provided a distinctive experience that truly encompassed the cultural exchange values of the Fulbright program.
Through this exchange, we were reminded of the profound value in learning from each other’s traditions. By engaging with the rich cultural practices of both the U.S. and Tamil Nadu, we not only celebrated what makes us unique but also discovered the common threads that bind us. These shared experiences foster a deeper understanding of cultural roots, promote social change, and strengthen intercultural harmony.
Thanks to The Fulbright Program, USIEF Chennai, & USIEF India, for this invaluable and life-changing experience.
Written By: Persis Naumann & Alexa Burnston
Attended By: Persis Naumann, Alexa Burnston, Abhi Nathan, Karun Salvady, Mahishan Gnanaseharan
- Persis Naumann & Alexa Burnston
- persis.naumann@fulbrightmail.org