Vishu or Bihu, Indians in UAE keep traditions alive on regional new years

Since the last weekend, expats from various other states, primarily Hindus, have been celebrating their New Year falling on working days during this week. The festivities will be extended to the upcoming weekends also with many community groups organising cultural programmes and entertainment shows.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets across the UAE have been making brisk business especially in the vegetable sections as most people only have vegetarian dishes during these ceremonies with religious significance.

Most popular among them is Vishu, which fell on Monday. It is celebrated by the Keralites, who form the largest group among the more than 3.3 million strong Indian community here.

Dubai resident Anoop Nair, who has released a Vishu special song called Mama Malayalam (My Malayalam) on YouTube, said the Vishu celebration of Malayalees is incomplete without the sadhya, the sumptuous vegetarian feast served on banana leaf.

“The day starts with Vishukkani, a spread of everything auspicious including the konna (Golden Shower Tree flowers) that we see first on Vishu morning. The elders then bless the youngsters by giving them kaineettam, the gift of money. Everyone wears new clothes and enjoys the sadhya that typically has more than a dozen items. What we generally miss here are the crackers that we burst back home.”

Since the festival fell on a working day, many Malayalees resorted to restaurants for having sadhya.

Praseetha Rajesh, a certified trainer, however, cooked at home as she is celebrating Vishu with her sister Preethi Ajith after more than 15 years.

“After we got married, we could rarely make it to be together for Vishu celebrations. Now, she is here on a visit with her son and we are super excited to celebrate this blessed Vishu together,” she said.

The Bengali Hindus also marked Poila Baisakh on Monday by observing many rituals.

Anandita Kumar, a project manager in Dubai, said Bengali families start the day with prayers, hanging flowers in the mandir (miniature temple) at home and at the entrance.

“We also change the urns used for puja. Students keep their books and others keep their work materials for the puja. We pay respect to the elders by touching their feet and gift new clothes to younger ones.”

Interestingly, Rohu, a river fish that is available in plenty in West Bengal, is the most essential part of the traditional feast on the day, said Anandita who is looking forward to attend a cultural celebration by her community group on Friday.

The Assamese New Year Rongali Bihu also fell on Monday. The small Assamese community in Dubai is getting together to celebrate the festival on April 26 and enlighten the younger generation about their traditions, said Aswini Borkotoky, who owns a car leasing company.