Arjun Pradeepan
Auckland, October 8, 2024
On September 21, 2024, Healthcare Workers from the Emergency Department of Middlemore Hospital, originally from Kerala, India, hosted a vibrant Onam celebration at Weymouth Community Hall in New Zealand. The event, attended by nearly 200 people, highlighted Kerala’s rich cultural traditions with a blend of festive activities.
About Onam
Onam is a vibrant and significant harvest festival celebrated primarily in the Indian state of Kerala. It marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali, whose reign is remembered as a time of peace, prosperity, and happiness. The festival usually falls between August and September and is observed for ten days, with the most important day being Thiruvonam.
The celebration of Onam includes a variety of cultural events and traditions. One of the highlights is the creation of Pookalam an intricate floral arrangement made on the ground to welcome King Mahabali. People wear traditional attire, with women typically dressed in elegant white and gold Kasavu Saree.
A grand feast called Onam Sadhya is prepared, consisting of a variety of vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf, with rice, curries, pickles, and payasam (a sweet dish) as key components.
Onam reflects the unity and cultural richness of Kerala, bringing together people of all communities to celebrate the values of happiness, generosity, and shared heritage.
The celebration featured the traditional Onam Sadhya (feast), cultural performances, and games, creating an atmosphere of joy and togetherness.
Discussing Healthcare Issues
The event was attended by Members of Parliament, Jenny Salesa, Arena Williams, Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Shanan Helbert (Labour Party) and Rima Nakhle (National Party), who were honoured in the traditional Malayali manner.
The official programme commenced with a welcome speech by Arjun Pradeepan, followed by insightful Onam messages from Sasi Nambissan and Amal Joseph. During the event, various issues faced by Nurses and Healthcare Workers were discussed, with MPs expressing their support and admiration for the Malayali community’s contributions to the Healthcare Sector.
Mr Nambissan, Prabhakaran Chullian, and Lana Tamara were also honoured for their ongoing support and contributions to the Indian community in New Zealand. The event was sponsored by Smartlife Financial Solutions.
The celebration was concluded by Swapna Varghese, marking the end of a memorable event that reinforced cultural unity and recognised the valuable contributions of healthcare workers and community leaders.
Arjun Pradeepan works for the Emergency Department at Middlemore Hospital in Auckland. He was one of the organisers of the Onam Festival Event.
