Onam celebrations start in style for Bahrain Keralites

Many Keralite expatriate associations in the Kingdom have kicked off their Onam celebrations by lining up many events. Onam is an annual harvest festival in the state of Kerala in India. According to legends, the festival is celebrated to commemorate King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

This year’s Onam falls on Wednesday, September 11. Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS), began their one-month long Onam celebrations titled “Sravanam 2019”  with a flag-hoisting ceremony on Friday.   A tug of war competition and food festival was held at the BKS Diamond Jubilee Hall with lots of enthusiasm. Raj Kalesh, an Indian magician, celebrity chef,  and renowned performer led the events.  A raft of events including Pulikkali (tiger folk dance), Thalappoli (traditional procession), Thiruvaathirakkali (a ritual dance) and creating floral carpets have been lined up as part of “Sravanam 2019”.

Leading Indian singers Hariharan, K S Chitra, Madhu Balakrishnan, Najeem Arshad, Sithara and Naresh Ayar will be performing with the other renowned artists on various days. Along with these entertainment programmes, notable political figures, and eminent personalities will also attend the festival events. 

“Sravanam 2019” will end on October 4 with a delicious Onam feast  for 5,000 people, which will be served in traditional banana leaf prepared by renowned chef Pazhayidam Mohanan Namboodiri and his team.  The first coupon for Onasadhya was handed over to Mr John Ommen, General Manager, Yaqubi Stores, who are the distributors of Nirapara brand in Bahrain, by BKS President P V Radhakrishna Pillai in the presence of M P Raghu, General Secretary, BKS. 

Separately, Bahrain Syro Malabar Society (SYMS) will commence its Onam festival events on Friday, September 6, at Ahli Indoor Club from 8 am until 11 pm. The Onam feast named “Maha Ona Sadya” will be conducted at the Indian Club auditorium in Gudaibiya on September 20. The inauguration of the coupon distribution for the feast was done at an event held at the Indian Delights Restaurant in Salmaniya.

The first coupon was handed over to P P Chakkuny, the former president of SYMS Bahrain and Sani Paul, who is the convener of Onam celebrations, by Charles Alukka, the President of SYMS. Apart from the celebrations in the Kingdom, SYMS will organise an Onam feast in Kerala for nearly 1,500 residents, who are staying in old age homes. Kerala Social and Cultural Association (NSS) will have its Onam programmes from September 8 onwards. It will begin with a “Payasa malsaram” (traditional dessert cooking competition) at its office premises.

Various entertainment programmes will be held among the members between September 20 and September 26. The association will also honour popular Kathakali artist and playback singer Kottakkal Madhu with Kalarathna Award at an event to be held at the Indian Club on September 19. Kerala Catholic Association will host many programmes as part of its Onam celebrations at its premises in Segaya.

The Onam feast will be conducted on September 13, 2019, at the BKS Diamond Jubilee Auditorium. The celebrations will conclude on September 20 and an event held on the same day will honour renowned Malayalam film director and lyricist Sreekumaran Thampi. The Onam feast hosted by Sree Narayana Cultural Society will be held on September 13 at its Salmaniya premises.