The proud moments of Durham Tamils
Proclamation Presentations for January 2014 – Received at Town of Ajax and City of Pickering
On 9th of December, 2013
For Town of Ajax
Proclamation Presentation speech is done by Anand Tharmaratnam, Asst. Secretary, from Tamil cultural and Academic Society of Durham
For City of Pickering
Proclamation Presentation speech is done by Iswarya Thayaparan- Youth leader from Tamil cultural and Academic Society of Durham
For City of Oshawa
The heritage of an ethnic group incorporates the values, language, literature and history that have been passed down from preceding generations. These traditions have been passed and kept alive and thriving throughout generation not to be diminished but to keep culture endless. Heritage is a unique aspect to an ethnic group, in which it unifies and keeps individuals of these ethnicities intact.
Tamil Heritage has been rich and thriving throughout thousands of years. From religious architecture, sculpture, painting, music, dance, theater, language, philosophy, medical systems, rituals, cuisine, and textiles- it sure is one of a kind.
The Tamil language is one important aspect which identifies us as a unique ethnic group. As archaeological evidence suggests, The Tamil language, the mother of all Dravidian languages, has been in existence as long ago as 5000 years and serves up until today as a prime medium through which our heritage exists.
Tamils began migrating to Ontario as early as the 1940s. Since that time, Tamil Canadians have overcome tremendous obstacles and have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Canada.As a Diaspora community, to ensure that our rich culture is continually preserved and protected, it is essential for Tamils to be educated about their Tamil heritage, and of the richness of our history. Tamil Heritage Month was initiated in January 2010 as a means of achieving this goal.
January was chosen to be Tamil Heritage Month, because it is the month in which Thai Pongal and Tamil New Year, two very important festivities close to the hearts of all Tamils are celebrated. Tamil Heritage Month serves as a month for Tamils to celebrate their culture, traditions, history, literature and festivities, providing both Tamil youth and the mainstream community an opportunity to learn about and preserve the rich heritage of Tamils.
Along with Tamil Cultural and Academic Society of Durham, other Tamil organizations in our region and many organizations throughout Canada have endorsed Tamil Heritage Month. Tamil heritage can only be preserved by passing it on to our younger generations. Our heritage has spanned so many centuries because many Tamils took the responsibility to protect and share our heritage, culture, and language. In that manner, this responsibility lies within the hands of the Tamil youth to renew the commitment to celebrate and practice Tamil heritage, and safeguarding it for future generations.
Tamil Heritage Month aims to celebrate the history of the Tamil community and its contribution to the social, cultural, political and economic strength of Canada and the world. It is also an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the inspirational role that Tamil Canadians have played and continue to play in communities across Canada. While recognizing the accomplishments and tracing our roots, Tamil Heritage Month provides opportunities to actively celebrate Tamil heritage and sustain Tamil culture in Canada. The declaration of January as Tamil Heritage Month has been endorsed by over 40 prominent Tamil organizations in the Canadian Tamil Community.
The objectives of the Tamil Heritage Month are five-fold:
1) To celebrate the richness of the Tamil language and literature
2) To celebrate the traditions, arts and culture of Tamils around the world
3) To present to Canadians of all backgrounds about the language, traditions and history of the Tamil people
4) To highlight the achievements of Tamils in various fields both in the past and the present
5) To advance the growth and prosperity of Tamils
TCASD is proud to celebrate Tamil Heritage month at the Pickering Town Centre on Jan 25th, 2013 with presentations, demonstrations and performances. Other enriching events will take place throughout Durham Region and the rest of Ontario.
Posted in Events |
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Trackback from your own site.
