Abu Dhabi/Dubai: Many expatriates from the south Indian state of Kerala Wednesday celebrated Onam by preparing Onasadaya (Onam feast) at home while others ordered food from restaurants.
"For the last couple of years we have been ordering Onasadaya takeaway from restaurants which are known for their special Onam lunch but this year I decided to cook an elaborate Onam vegetarian lunch at home. I took a couple of days off from work and even my husband pitched in by helping me chop the vegetables, stir the payasam [pudding] and get banana leaves on which the lunch is served. We invited a number of friends for lunch," said Madhavi Nambhishan, a Dubai-based expatriate.
Onam is also called the harvest festival of Kerala.
Ambika J Menon from Abu Dhabi said: "For me, Onam is a time for nostalgic memories&I grew up in a village where the festival was celebrated unlike any other".
This year, many community organisations have postponed their Onam celebrations due to Ramadan.
"To be fair to all members of the community, our Onam related events have been postponed to until after Ramadan," Laina Mohammad, General Secretary of Kerala Social Centre said.
"We will hold a cultural programme to mark Eid and Onam on September 26 and an onasadya on October 10."
Abu Dhabi Malayalee Samajam will celebrate Onam along with Eid celebrations on September 25, B. Yesuseelan, general secretary, said.
Are you joining in the celebration? What do you do during this festival?
Your comments
Happy Onam
Najeeb
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 14:44
This is the time which we realize how much we miss our home and relatives. Its all readymade onam here. In order to enjoy onam we must there in kerala with our family members. I really miss onam.
Nikesh Poovathoor Pushkaran
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 13:59
Onam is celebrated much better in the other countries rather than in back home. But yes we all miss our dear one back home.
Abhilash
Riyadh,KSA
Posted: September 03, 2009, 13:43
Yes we celebrated Oman with our family, friends and relatives in full swing. If you are a Keralite, you have to celebrate onam. That is must. it is traditional and unavoidable to each and every malayaly.
Shaji Mathew
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 13:31
I think the festivals touch us deeper when we're away from our motherlands. we tried our best this year to make this onam as eventful to the new generation, as it was to us, as children. we made a flower carpet from the flowers bought from the templeside shops, made clay pyramid structures called "thrikkakkarayappan" from a pack of clay to position them in the middle of pookkalam. With that, new dresses, and an elaborate feast called sadya, this time's Onam was memorable!
Simi
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 13:04
onam is definitely festival of joy. Even though i am in alain and a working woman,i make it a point that my daughter should enjoy onam as i had experienced during my childhood.I had put flowers,made onattapan,ada and sadya for her.Definately our kids should enjoy all the festivals and now our customs and traditions.They should be aware .....
Nair Sindu
Al Ain,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 12:52
All malayalees in the UAE wishing a very happy ONAM
Suresh Kumar
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 12:29
Onam has always been special for me. In my childhood I was invited by all my Malayalee friends for lunch as I was not a Keralite. Later, I married into a Malayalee family and have been celebrating Onam for the last 16 years now.I have learnt to prepare the Onasadaya (a variety of vegetables, rice, sweets, curries etc) and serve it on the banana leaf. Whenever possible I invite my friends for the feast. My children enjoy the festival as they get new clothes and a large spread for lunch. My daughter and I make the pookkalam(flower decoration) and light the lamp. Onam is my favourite festival as it brings a lot of joy in the household. I have never ordered Onasadaya from outside and always prepare it at home. I take great pride in it as being a non-keralite I have learnt the traditions and customs of the state and have been able to inculcate the same in my children too. I feel festivals are meant to be celebrated with joy as it always brings a family together.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 12:28
In the modern living, to me, most occasions have become a sort of procedure that often ignores the significance of traditions. However, I must say that festivals today help family members to come together and strengthen the relations. We call up our friends and relatives and wish each other during the festival seasons; and to some extent, it helps rewind the memories of the past. For expatriate community, most celebrations are simple occasions to join together and to recollect their past. Perhaps all those celebrations are intended to uphold family togetherness in an organized way.
Ramachandran Nair
,Oman
Posted: September 03, 2009, 11:27
Yes we celebrated the Onam with our families and relatives. We had floral decoration with limited flowers. Then prepared Onam Sadya at home.But really misses the celebration in our home country.
Jaison M. B.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 10:41
Happy Onam
Suresh M.
Chennai,India
Posted: September 03, 2009, 10:41
We had small floral decoration
Rajiv
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 10:02
Although I'm a Christian and hail from Kerela, I do not celebrate Onam but love the Onam Sadhya. What is the point otherwise of celebrating Onam with out the Sadhya? I feel that due to time constraint there are a lot of people here in Dubai who can't really enjoy Onam unlike in India where you find time for everything.
Mathew Litty
Dubai,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 09:10
Onam celebrations here are fun but we really miss the real Onam mood back in Kerala.. Home Sweet Home
Jemy Boben
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: September 03, 2009, 08:45
