Indian expats from Kerala celebrate harvest festival

Dubai: Onam brings in a renewed nostalgia of the festive spirit, which fires up the southern Indian state of Kerala in a riot of colours and excitement, for the Keralite community in the UAE.

The annual harvest festival of Malayalees worldwide, Onam marks a ten-day celebration starting from the zodiac of Atham that marks the beginning of Chingam month on the Malayalam calendar and culminating on Thiruvonam, which is today.

It is on Thiruvonam that the legendary king Mahabali is believed to visit his people every year.

Many Malayalees, who could not make it to their home state for this Onam, said the festival is nevertheless celebrated in all its colour and glory in their households in the UAE.

"I have never missed Onam in Kerala even once ever since I came to Dubai 15 years ago. But this time around, I could not make it. But as I step out to the supermarkets and shops, I can feel Onam coming alive in its full spirit in Dubai," said K. Muralikrishnan, a contract engineer from Kerala.

Floral carpet

He said he has been buying flowers from the local market from the day of Atham so that his three children would not miss doing the floral carpet as they would make in Kerala.

"It is just a mini replica of the elaborate pattern we would do in our courtyard back home. But this is the best of Onam we can have when you are in a foreign country," said Muralikrishnan.

Ranjith, 13, and his sister Ranjitha, 8, from Sharjah said this time they are missing out on real Onam in Dubai as there are not much festivities because it falls in the fasting month of Ramadan.

"We used to participate in Pookkalam [floral carpet] competition and other cultural programmes but this year, we have to wait till September," said Ranjith Nair, a grade 8 student.

Most of the Kerala social and cultural associations have scheduled Onam celebrations after Eid in view of Ramadan. C.R.G. Nair, president of the United Malayalee Association (UMA), said a day-long Onam celebration will be held on September 17 at Al Nasr Leisure Land.

"There will be Pookkalam competition, Onam feast and a spectacular parade of the traditional art and cultural forms of Kerala complete with performances by artists specially flown down from Kerala," said Nair.

Likewise, Aqcaf (All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum) that brings alumni members of 55 colleges under its umbrella has lined up special Onam celebrations on September 24. True to the axiom that Onam should be celebrated even if it means selling ones assets, the large Keralite community in the UAE were seen thronging the shopping malls to buy new clothes, gifts, vegetable and fruits for the occasion.

"Onam is one occasion when we spend on clothes, food and gifts without scrimping. It is a festival that is celebrated by both the rich and poor and across all religions. I will do full justice to it," said a gleaming Francis Mathan, a businessman from Dubai.

He said he is sending gifts to all his family members in Kerala in addition to the money he has already sent home this month.

Many restaurants have made it easy for the residents by offering packets Onam feast which can be booked in advance.