KERALITES OF the City celebrated ‘Thiruonam’ of the ten-day Onam festival today with traditional gaiety and fervour. The people celebrated the festival in their homes by lighting lamps and decorating flower mats at their doorsteps to welcome King Mahabali (who is said to visit earth on this day). Onam ‘sadya’ (feast), which is a main feature of the festival, was also prepared in most households.
A traditional Onam ‘sadya’ comprises different varieties of sambar, avial, toran, pappadams, uppilittathu (pickles of various kinds), pacchadi, rasam, curd, bananas, payasam and prathamans – served traditionally on plantain leaves.
Lav Kush Malayali Association, Lord Ayappa Temple Trust and Keraleeya Samajam in the City hosted grand programmes on the occasion.
Lav Kush Malayali Association executive committee member Manoj Nair told Hindustan Times that Onam is celebrated in the month of ‘Chingam’ according to Malayalam calendar. The Association organised cultural programmes at Lav Kush Garden in Sukhliya. State PWD Minister Kailash Vijayvargiya inaugurated the programme. Local corporator Kailash Rathore was special guest.
Nair said the children staged ‘Thiruvathira’ dance on this occasion. Other programmes included Bharatnatyam, Onam songs and plays.
Around 2,500 persons participated in the celebrations in Lav Kush garden. Association organiser K V Sudhakaran said that the most important thing is the grand lunch on this day that consists of special recipes served on banana leaf. According to Nair, Keralites believe in the saying that ‘one should have the Thiruonam lunch even if he has to sell all his property’.
A large ‘Athapoo’ (flower rangoli) was made at the Lord Ayyappa Temple. Malayalis dressed in traditional attire visited the temple in large numbers. There was special ‘puja’ and feast in the temple.
A large ‘Athapoo’ (flower rangoli) was made at the Lord Ayyappa Temple. Malayalis dressed in traditional attire visited the temple in large numbers. There was special ‘puja’ and feast in the temple.