Dubai: Bananas are being shipped in and flowers flown into the UAE as expatriates from the south Indian state of Kerala celebrate Onam, their harvest festival.
There are an estimated one million Malayalis, the Malayalam-speaking community from Kerala, who have made the UAE their second home.
Onam heralds the homecoming of Hindu mythological king Mahabali and is the biggest festival of the Malayali community.
The 10-day festival culminates on Thiruvonam Day, which falls on September 4 this year.
Retailers in the UAE have imported tonnes of fruits and vegetables that Malayalis need to prepare Onasadhya, the traditional vegetarian feast served on banana leaves.
LuLu Group, which caters to a large section of the community, sells over 350 tonnes of fruits and vegetables during Onam each year, said Salim M.A, director of LuLu Group, who is also the global procurement head for fruits and vegetables in the group.
“Onam is now more of a Gulf festival than a Kerala festival. With community celebrations extending for one or two months, we require a steady flow of typical Onam things,” he told Gulf News.
For the first time, the group has imported bananas through the sea route, Salim said.
“There is a huge demand for bananas and leaves during the Onam season. Given the huge load on flights due to the vacation season, we decided to import bananas and leaves in ships,” he added.
The group tied up with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority of India to arrange the temperature-controlled shipment of bananas in special refrigerated containers.
“The first container with 10 tonnes of bananas reached earlier this week,” Salim said.
Every year, Emirates SkyCargo also transports significant volumes of perishables from Kerala to the Middle East during the run-up to Onam.
Flowers brought in from India are also used for making traditional ‘Onam Pookalams’ which are intricate and colourful floral arrangements.
A special ‘Onam Pookalam’ was put together by staff at Emirates SkyCargo this week to underline how the air cargo carrier helps bring a taste of home to expatriates in the region.
In the first three weeks of August 2017, Emirates SkyCargo transported close to 2,200 tonnes of fruits and vegetables from India to the rest of the world out of which close to 1,700 tonnes were air freighted to several destinations in the Middle East region, the company stated.
Dressing up in cream and gold
Kerala saree and kasavu mundu, the traditional cream and gold dresses worn by Malayalees during Onam are in demand in the UAE.
“Our stores have been stacked up with ethnic Kerala sarees imported directly from weavers of Kuthampully in Palakkad. Readymade kasavu skirts and blouses for girls are also in good demand,” said V. Nandakumar, chief communication officer at LuLu Group.
The traditional outfits are now undergoing several experiments, said Thomas Joseph, sales manager, Parthas Textiles Group. “This time the Kalamkari design is trending. Women are going for set sarees with printed borders, mural painting and block prints. Warli designs and prints are the new trends for gents’ mundu.”
With the Eid holidays coinciding with Onam days, celebrations in the UAE have already begun at homes, offices and community associations.
“Onam symbolises harmony, love and peace. We celebrated Onam ahead of the Eid holidays this time. Our multinational staff took part in the celebrations with the same spirit as the Malayalees. Some of them from other nationalities even wore the traditional Kerala dresses,” said Dr K.P. Hussain, managing director and CEO of Fathima Healthcare Group.
Onam celebrations in the UAE go on for a couple of months as various groups of expatriate get together during the weekends.
