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Auckland Malayali Samajam will celebrate Onam with much glitz and glam on Saturday, August 22, 2015 at Mahatma Gandhi Centre, 145 new North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland.
As another report appears in this Section, Onam is a festival celebrated by Malayalees in Kerala and various parts of the world to commemorate the onset of a new season and era of prosperity, progress, peace and social harmony.
This is the only event celebrated jointly by people subscribing to all religious faiths, especially Hinduism, Islam and Christianity.
Harvest season
In Kerala, Onam is celebrated during the harvest months of late August and early September, Onam marks the homecoming of Mahabali, a mythical king whose reign was considered a golden era of Kerala. People in Kerala make elaborate preparations and celebrate Onam with great enthusiasm.
The rich cultural heritage of Kerala is exhibited in its best form during the ten festive days of Onam, but the main attraction is ‘Onasadhya,’ a grand vegetarian feast prepared on Thiruvonam, the final day that culminates the carnival.
Multicourse Banquet
It is a banquet, a multicourse vegetarian meal consisting of more than 20 different authentic dishes. It is traditionally served on banana leaf along with rice.
Auckland Malayali Samajam President Maneesh Joseph and members of the Executive Committee have already started preparations to make Onam 2015 a razzle-dazzle show with a three-hour cultural programme.
The cultural extravaganza will include Mohiniyattam, Thiruvathira Kali, Bharata Natyam, Pulikali, Ammankudom cinematic dances and Onam skit. Among the highlights of the Festival would be the release of ‘Darpanam,’ our Annual Magazine.
The doors to the Festival will open at 430 pm.
Joseph Kuriakose, aka as Jomichen, is Secretary of the Auckland Malayali Samajam. He can be contacted on 021-0413060. Email: secretary@aucklandmalayalisamajam.org.nz
Photo :
File Photo of Onam celebrations in Auckland
