Kabeer Yousuf
With weekend feasts hosting hundreds of people from different walks, both Omanis and expatriates alike to a sumptuous meal spread on plantain leaves, a nearly three months-long Onam celebrations are currently gaining momentum in different parts of the country.
Onam festival, which is also known as the harvest festival celebrated predominantly by the Hindus of Kerala but joined by rest of the people from across the continents around the year, is proving to be a great networking platform that is capitalised by commercial establishments from various sectors as well.
The multi-dimensional socio-cultural and gastronomic events which begin in September through November each year, is a rendezvous of hundreds of people, men, women and children who gather at hotels and other meeting halls participating in activities that commemorate the festival season culminating in a sumptuous feast called 'sadya', a several course dish almost every weekend through these three months.
A series of events take place during the festival day organised by regional wings and groups of people under the Indian Social Club, the only authorised body with the Ministry of Social Development, since the beginning of the month.
While the celebrations got the ball rolling with the 'Palakkad Friends', a group of people from this Valluvanadan district with Aparna Balamurli, an ace, national award-winning actor presiding over the event, Malayalam Wing, NFU, Kerala Wing and the like kept the momentum scaling greater heights with weekend socio cultural programmes accompanied by a sumptuous feast. This momentum was continued by associations like Ernakulam Metropolitans and Nanma Kasargod over the weekend.
"Events like this are, more than a religious or societal gathering, a display of unity of humanity and a networking platform that underlines knowing each other and listening to the less heard people," says Sreekumar, Convener of Palakkad Friends.
The Kerala Wing, a regional wing under the Indian social Club, hosted their well-wishers on October 11 but had to call the feast off because of the tragic incident that took several lives in Wayanad recently.
"All our income generated through the membership fee will be sent to the relief Fund of the state," Santosh Kumar, Convener of Kerala Wing under the ISC said.
Malayalam Wing, yet another regional wing celebrate Onam on October 5th and 6th with Tessy Joseph, Indian scientist and former DG of Aueronautical Systems as the chief guest in Al Falaj hotel
"These celebrations do directly supporting the economy in a desirable scale as hundreds of people gather, dine together, and celebrate in a grand manner the cost of which will run several thousands of Rials as they source local products and services," opines Ajit Vasudevan, Convenor of the Wing.
Banking on the three months long Onam fears and celebrations, shopping malls and hypermarket chains too have had devised plans to keep their customers entertained and celebrated Onam together. Shopping malls have been organising a plethora of events including singing competitions like 'Sing and Win', giving an opportunity to their customers to cherish their favourite music and celebrate together by sending their music track.
A competition on 'feast of payasam', a chilled South Asian dessert made from slow-cooked rice, milk, and sugar, was conducted for those yearning ladies who celebrated Onam with all its pomp and glitter.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
