On Saturday 21st January 2023, The Federation of Tamil Organisations Waltham Forest (FTO) will be hosting Tamil Heritage Month celebrations.

The celebrations will begin with an outdoor Pongal (Harvest) Festival at 1pm, followed by a short street parade with performances. The day ends with an indoor stage event showcasing traditional Tamil arts such as folk dances and silambam. This will be held at 5.30pm at Frederick Bremer School, E17 4EY.

The FTO is made up of the Tamil organisations based in the London borough:

• Waltham Forest Thamil Sangam

• Sri Katpaga Vinayagar Temple

• Sri Merupuram Kali Amman Temple

• Tamil Catholic Chaplaincy – Chingford Mass Centre

• Emmanuel Christian Fellowship

• Tamil Elders Welfare Association

• Waltham Forest Sri Sathya Sai Centre

• Tamil Chamber of Commerce Waltham Forest

There is a large Tamil population in Waltham Forest who have contributed successfully to society through businesses, education, healthcare etc. 

FTO have been tirelessly campaigning on their behalf for several years to get the month of January recognised as Tamil Heritage Month by the local council. In January 2022 (Thai Pongal – Harvest Festival), documents passing a resolution to this effect were signed by representatives of all the Tamil organisations involved before His Worshipful the Mayor and the Leader of the LBWF Council. This year for the first time the council is supporting, funding and promoting the month and the events celebrating it.

FTO are proud to be liaising with Waltham Forest council on this historic project and making it an annual event in their calendar alongside Tamil Cultural Day celebrated in the Summer.