Egyptian becomes Keralite 'mythical king Maveli' as Indian expats begin Onam early in the UAE
Kerala’s 10-day harvest festival of unity marked by schools, companies, community groups
Dubai: Egyptian expat Monzer Nawar had never imagined he would don the role of a king in his life. However, on Monday, September 2, he became King Mahabali or Maveli, the mythical king whose homecoming is traditionally celebrated during the Onam festival of the south Indian state of Kerala.
A training consultant with Blue Ocean Corporation, Nawar had the opportunity to play the role of the benevolent king loved by Keralites across the world during the Onam celebration organised by his company in Dubai, one of the first to kick off the festivities in the UAE.
“I definitely enjoyed being king,” Nawar told Gulf News.
“I dressed up like this for the first time in my life. The attire shows how rich culture is,” he said, admitting that he loved being the centre of attraction during the celebrations that brought together employees of over 20 nationalities.
What is Onam?
A harvest festival linked to Hindu mythology, Onam is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam which falls in August or September. People of Kerala, known as Malayalis since they speak the language Malayalam, celebrate the return of Maveli from the mythical netherworld to visit his subjects. Festivities lasting for 10 days culminate on the Thiruvonam Day, the last and most important day.
This year, Onam begins on September 6 and Thiruvonam falls on September 15. However, the celebrations began earlier in the UAE where the vibrant Malayali community hosts massive events over several days.
Companies, community groups and schools have begun the celebrations in right earnest. They are attended by people of various nationalities, showcasing the festival’s theme of unity among the subjects of Maveli and the camaraderie among the multicultural residents of the UAE.
The day-long festivities organised by Nawar’s company were enriched by the enthusiastic participation of the entire non-Indian staff, who donned traditional Kerala sarees and mundus, embracing the cultural heritage of the state, the homeland of more than a million Indian expats in the UAE.
‘I want to visit Kerala’
Nawar said he had missed visiting Kerala when the entire office team attended the company’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in Kerala which was supported by the Kerala Tourism Department.
“Our AGMs are held in different destinations. Last time, it was in Kerala. Unfortunately, I joined after that. But, I have heard a lot about the rich cultural heritage and unforgettable hospitality of Kerala from my colleagues who visited the God’s Own Country. From the photos and videos, I was mesmerised by the beauty of Kerala,” he added.
Employees from multicultural backgrounds taking part in traditional Onam activities like Vadam Vali (tug of war) and performing the Thiruvathirakkali (a traditional dance performed by women positioned in a circle) were some of the highlights of the event held at the India Club, said Dr Sathya Menon, the group’s CEO.
“It is heartwarming to see how the essence of our experiences in Kerala is beautifully recreated here. This would not have been possible without the efforts of our incredible team, whose dedication and spirit bring us closer together as a family,” added Abdul Azeez, the chairman of the group.
CAs remember Wayanad
Around 200 people took part in another early celebration organised by the Kerala Chartered Accountants (KCA) in the UAE on August 31.
“With Thiruvonam falling on Sunday, a public holiday, many of us plan to mark the festival at home with our families. Hence, we organised our professional group’s celebration much earlier,” said Beauty Prasad, one of the organisers of the KCA celebration.
The event commenced with attendees paying tributes to the victims of the Wayanad landslides on July 30 that reportedly claimed more than 400 lives and flattened buildings in two villages.
“Our members had individually supported the victims of the devastating tragedy. One of them, Anil Poduval, even settled a Rs50,000 bank loan of a woman survivor,” said Prasad.
The celebrations featured a traditional Onasadhya (a lavish vegetarian feast served on banana leaf), Pookkalam (traditional floral decoration made on the ground) and a series of cultural competitions.
Unity, tolerance among students
Meanwhile, GEMS Our Own Indian School (OIS) also started the Onam celebrations early.
“We have special Onam assemblies by different sections. The first one was held on Monday,” said Lalitha Suresh, the principal.
She said the students wore ethnic Kerala outfits and performed traditional songs and dances. A special Onasadhya organised by grade 12 children, who will celebrate the festival for one last time in the school, and Fabulous Friday dress code themed after Onam will be part of the upcoming celebrations in the school.
“We should encourage our children to develop tolerance and social skills by embracing and celebrating the cultures and festivals of different countries, not just those of our own,” added Suresh.
Various community groups have announced plans to celebrate Onam in all its grandeur in the coming weeks.
Restaurants run by Keralites are gearing up to dish up Onasadhya on Thiruvonam while supermarkets and garment shops catering to the Malayali community are getting busier with Onam shopping spree.