15/01/2026

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THURSDAY | JAN 15, 2026

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Brothers uphold traditional Ponggal pot crafting

Ű BY KIRTINEE RAMESH newsdesk@thesundaily.com

PETALING JAYA: For brothers Wadiveel and Nagendran Nadarajah, Ponggal is more than a harvest festival – it is the lifeblood of their family’s 70-year-old pottery business, in which every clay pot carries a story of tradition, skill and heritage. The siblings run Jeyam Brothers Creations Sdn Bhd, continuing a family legacy that has supplied handcrafted clay Ponggal pots to households across Malaysia for three generations. Yet, the brothers admit that times are changing. Demand for the pots has declined in recent years as celebration styles evolve and modern alternatives gain popularity. “When Ponggal falls on weekdays, many families celebrate more simply. “More people are also choosing stainless steel or decorative items instead of traditional clay pots,” Wadiveel said. Still, he expressed belief that the clay pot remains at the heart of Ponggal celebrations. Made from earth, it symbolises prosperity, renewal and a deep sense of gratitude towards nature. He explained that the ritual of allowing milk and rice to boil over in a new pot, accompanied by joyful cries of “Ponggalo Ponggal”, represents hopes

willing to learn the craft today. At the same time, mass-produced plastic and stainless steel items have reduced demand for clay pots, especially for everyday use,” said Nagendran. Even so, the company continues to distribute pots nationwide and has received individual overseas orders from customers in Australia, the United Kingdom and Canada. Nagendran said international customers value the use of premium grade clay and traditional firing techniques which result in superior quality, durability and authenticity. The brothers expressed belief that preserving the craft would require renewed appreciation, innovation and youth involvement. They also expressed hope that younger generations would see pottery not only as cultural heritage but also as a meaningful and sustainable modern business. added value as batik motifs are not only visually appealing but also reflect the nation’s artistic heritage and cultural identity. Her products are priced between RM4 and RM20 each. Fasiha estimates that more than 100 pieces of leftover fabric have been saved from disposal since she started the business, with the products receiving encouraging demand as souvenirs. Meanwhile, La Mode Fashion Academy founder Jessica Lee said beyond adding new value to materials often regarded as waste, upcycling batik and other types of used fabrics also plays an important role in educating the public, especially the younger generation, about sustainability and appreciation of local crafts.

and carefully filtered to remove impurities such as stones and roots. “It is then mixed with about 20% to 30% sand and kneaded until it reaches the right consistency. “Each pot is manually shaped on a pottery wheel, preserving skills honed over decades.” The freshly formed pots are sun-dried for eight to 14 days to ensure strength before being fired in a kiln for about 10 hours at temperatures reaching 1,050°C. Finally, each pot is hand-painted with colourful floral motifs, making every piece unique. Despite seasonal spikes during Ponggal, the brothers say sustaining the craft is increasingly challenging. Rising costs of raw materials, fuel and manpower coupled with a lack of interest among younger generations put pressure on traditional potters. “There are fewer young people of offcuts from batik garments sewn by her mother and sister. “At the beginning, there was no plan to produce upcycled items. But as the leftover fabrics kept accumulating, that’s when the idea came to turn them into usable products. “One of the easiest items to make is a coaster. The leftover fabric from a single garment could produce between five and 10 coasters, preventing the material from becoming waste,” she said when met at the Upcycle Batik Wear Festival recently. She also said it takes only about 30 minutes to produce 10 coasters, adding that the leftover material she uses is sourced from Terengganu. She said each product carries

o Handmade clay vessels symbolise prosperity, renewal and gratitude

doorsteps and families gather to cook Ponggal dishes at auspicious times. The third day, Maatu Ponggal, is devoted to honouring cattle for their vital role in farming and food production. Cows are bathed, decorated with garlands, beads and bells, and worshipped as symbols of agricultural prosperity. The festival concludes with Kaanum Ponggal, a day centred on family and community, when relatives gather to share meals and younger members seek blessings from elders. Behind each pot crafted at Jeyam Brothers Creations lies a painstaking traditional process. Wadiveel said clay is sourced locally KUALA LUMPUR: In the eyes of many, fabric scraps are merely leftover pieces of textiles with little value. In reality, the remnants could be given a new lease of life as souvenirs or decor items, as proven by The Batik Edit founder Fasiha Mohd Noh. The 35-year-old sees cloth scraps not as waste but as a resource with potential to be redesigned into high-value products that emphasise sustainability. Since August 2025, she has been using leftover batik fabric to produce small items such as coasters and scrunchies. The products are not only practical for everyday use but also can be purchased as souvenirs. Fasiha told Bernama the idea emerged organically, driven by her reluctance to discard the growing pile

for abundance and happiness to overflow into a household. “Ponggal is a four-day harvest festival celebrated by the Tamil community to give thanks to the sun, mother nature and farm animals for a bountiful harvest. “It also marks the beginning of the Tamil month of Thai, which is considered auspicious and usually falls on Jan 14 or Jan 15 each year.” The celebrations begin with Bhogi, a day of renewal when families clean their homes, discard old belongings and prepare for fresh beginnings. This is followed by Surya Ponggal, the main day of the festival. Colourful kolam designs adorn

Entrepreneur gives leftover batik fabric new lease of life

Fasiha, pictured alongside her products at the Upcycle Batik Wear Festival at the Semua House shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. – BERNAMAPIC

Education retains its importance in the Malaysian landscape for parents, students and stakeholders. The changes are fast paced with new developments in new fields of study such as cybersecurity, data protection, augmented and virtual reality, machine learning in education, digital education and artificial Intelligence. Leading the way are universities, who are invited to showcase their latest programmes, curriculum and content in our Education Focus for 2026.

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