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Keralites celebrate Onam with fervour

Onam celebrations in Kerala last 10 days, marking — as legend has it — the homecoming of King Mahabali, who was known as an epitome of generosity and the ultimate people’s king.

Pookkalam (flower mats), pulikkali (a tiger dance), a variety of games and boat races are some of the highlights of the 10-day celebrations in addition to the Onasadya or the traditional multi-course feast held on Thiruonam, the most important day of the festival.

The festival, although rooted in Hindu mythology, has wide acceptance among Malayalees of all religions and is celebrated by community members with cultural programmes.

Malayalee associations in the UAE have traditionally organised such programmes on the weekends after Thiruonam, but this year they made an exception as a mark of respect for the local culture and etiquette to be followed during the holy month of Ramadan.

Some Onam programmes were held before the start of Ramadan and more are likely to follow after Eid.

On Monday, festival celebrations comprised mainly Onasadya in homes and pookkalam in the more spacious apartments. Monday being a working day, most families and single people preferred to dine together in the evening so that all members of family, friends and even colleagues could join in. Because of the Ramadan fast, many Malayalee restaurants obtained special permission to provide their customers seated or packed ready-to-eat Onasadya.

In most cases the customers booked their Onasadya well in advance, fearing that restaurants would run out of food, if they turned up late. Prices for the packets varied between Dh20 and 49 depending on the number of food items and the kind of packaging. Some Malayalee management organisations also marked Onam for special employee welfare gestures.

“We distributed payasam (sweet dish) to employees and there was pookkalam at the entrance of both our offices in Ras Al Khor Industrial Area and Jebel Ali Free Zone,” said Santhosh, HR Manager of a logistics company. He added that the company even permitted its Malayalee employees to come dressed in the traditional attire on Onam day.

Murali, a Bur Dubai restaurant owner, said he gave his employees their Onam cash gift and half day’s leave, taking into consideration the hard work put in by them during the run-up to Onam and in the packing of the Onasadya parcels.

Since most Indian schools will be opening only in mid-September, many Malayalee families have left for Kerala to celebrate Onam there.

Sanju, a married bank employee, who works in the DIFC building and lives in the Shaikh Zayed Road area, said that she would be leaving for Abu Dhabi after office to have the Onasadya with her parents who live there.

Most Malayalees messaged or called up relatives and friends in India and exchanged Onam greetings. Special Onam programmes telecast on major Malayalam television channels, featuring celebrity interviews, cookery shows, films and cultural programmes, helped expatriate Malayalees to stay in touch with Kerala and the festive mood.

anil@khaleejtimes.ae

• UAE