Tuticorin Malayalis come together for ‘Onam’ celebrations

Traditional dance performances and folk arts of Kerala, comedy skits, a sumptuous ‘Onasadhya’ (feast), dazzles of ‘kasavu mundu’ and ‘kasavu saris’ and cultural programmes encapsulated Onam celebrations of the Malayali fraternity in the city on 9th September.

The Kerala Samajam, which organised the 32nd edition of Onam festival at Roopavathi Palace Thirumana Mandapam, ensured that the celebrations had a stamp of zeal and fervour to make the Malayalis here touch the home base. Comedy numbers and film songs presented by a group of television and cine artistes from Thiruvananthapuram formed the part of the celebrations.

A group of students from Annammal College of Education for Women, Tuticorin, who hail from Kerala, took the audience down the memory lane to their childhood days in the neighbouring State with the presentation of ‘Thiruvathirakali’ and ‘Onam songs.’

The ‘Onasadhya’ offered on the occasion captivated the foodies. Rice was the main course, supplemented by dishes such as curries, ‘upperies’ (fried food), pickles, ‘pappadams’ and ‘payasams.’ The feast was prepared by cooks brought from Paravoor in Kerala.

“The annual Onam celebration gives an opportunity for Malayalis staying in various places across the town to congregate at one place,” tells P. George Thomas, secretary of Kerala Samajam.