London: With less than two weeks left for Onam and the auspicious Malayalam month of Chingam beginning, festive spirit is already in the air in the United Kingdom.
The Malayali diaspora has kicked off Onam festivities in the country, and weekend celebrations will continue even after the end of Onam season back home. The harvest festival is an elaborate affair here, as the Onam-related activities in the UK will end only in the last week of October when the country slowly starts to soak in Christmas fervor.
Cultural events are being organized across the UK by various Malayali associations. For most of them, Onam is the only program on their agenda. The festival will be celebrated with much gusto by churches of various Christian denominations as well. Different religious organizations will also hold special programs in a grand manner so that the community members can collectively enjoy Onam despite being away from their homes.
Some of these programs will be a low-key affair, while traditional pomp and splendor will mark the celebrations organized by most of the Malayali associations based in London and other major cities in the country where the mood will be even more celebratory than in Kerala.
There are associations that conduct programs such as Vadamvali (tug of war), Sinkarimelam, sack race, Thiruvathirakali, and the colorful Pulikali as part of Onam festivities. Statuettes of Onathappan and Thiruvathirakali are indispensable parts of the festival. The materials and paraphernalia required for holding these programs will be ‘imported’ from Kerala when they return from vacation. Those who bring things like vadam (tug) and chenda (a native drum) will rent out them after their use and make some quick bucks. Maveli’s gears such as the crown and the palm-leaf umbrella are also available on rent.
Most of the Keralites living in the UK are members of more than one association. In the coming days, the clashing of program dates will be a major cause of concern for them! The celebrations will continue for several months from now in order to avoid this ‘clash’. That is why Onam and Christmas are stretched out affairs for the NRKs in the UK.
The Onam season is also a season of split for the Malayali associations here. It is during this time many groups fade into oblivion and new collectives sprout up to fill the void. This Onathallu (bare-fist fighting) has given birth to so many such associations in the UK. They continue to exist only to conduct Onam programs.
Onam also brings a windfall for hoteliers who supply the Onam feast to almost all the Malayali associations. There are private groups that organize special Onam feasts at these restaurants for the community members on the ‘Thiruvonam’ day. Many bring along with them their ‘foreign’ friends to let them have taste of the traditional feast.
Most of the associations book auditoriums and meeting halls in advance to conduct their Onam programs. With the Malayali population in the UK growing steadily every year, Onam has become a familiar name like Diwali among Britons. These celebrations provide them an opportunity to connect with our cultural symbols of identity such as the traditional attires Kasavu Sari and Mundu, as well as the feast served on banana leaves.
