Indian Club to Host Vibrant Onam Fest 2024 Celebration

TDT | Manama

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The Indian Club is set to celebrate its highly anticipated ‘Onam Festival 2024’, a week-long extravaganza of cultural events, traditional sports, and exciting competitions. The festival will take place from September 26th to October 4th, at the club’s premises, offering a colourful showcase of Kerala’s rich heritage.

The festivities will kick off with an official inauguration on Thursday, September 26th, at 7:30 p.m., followed by the ‘Onapudava’ (traditional Onam costume) competition and a cinematic dance performance.

On Friday, September 27th, the program continues with a ‘Payasam’ (sweet pudding) competition, followed by ‘Chenda Melam’ (traditional drumming) competition, and a tug-of-war contest, all starting at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, September 28th, will feature the ‘Thiruvathira’ competition, a graceful dance performed by women contestants, followed by the ‘Onappattu’ (Onam songs) competition, also beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The celebrations extend into the following week, with highlights including the ‘Ona Chanda’ (traditional Onam market) on Thursday, October 3rd, and a vibrant ‘Ghoshayatra’ (procession) on Friday, October 4th, depicting Kerala’s traditional folklore and costumes. ‘Pookalam’ competition A folk music performance and fusion band Aaravam Bahrain will entertain the crowd later in the evening.

Earlier that day, the ‘Pookalam’ (floral display) competition will take place at 10 a.m.

The grand finale will occur on Friday, October 11th, when the club hosts its famous ‘Onasadhya’ (traditional Onam feast), serving 2,500 patrons, members, and guests. The feast will include 29 traditional dishes, all prepared on-site and served on banana leaves. Participants are encouraged to register for the various competitions, with deadlines ranging from September 24 to October 1. Full details, including coordinator contacts, are available for each event.

‘Onapudava’ competition The last date for registration for ‘Onapudava’ competition is September 24th. For further details, participants can contact the coordinators Josmi at 33714099, Shreeja at 36788183, or Togi Mathew at 36545497. The ‘Payasam’ competition is scheduled to be held on September 27th.