Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala and is celebrated with much gusto across the state. However, when it comes to our non-resident Keralites, Onam becomes more than just a festival. It becomes synonymous with their identity in a foreign land, an opportunity to meet, celebrate and reminisce with fellow Malayalis.

Festivals are usually the time when expats miss their homeland and family the most. But for decades now, Malayalis across the globe have found ways to celebrate this festival with their friends and imbibe the culture of their homeland to their children. 

Mathrubhumi spoke to a handful of malayalee associations from around the world and they were more than happy to share glimpses of their celebrations with our team.

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aima

All India Malayali Association

It was in 2007 that this umbrella association was formed in Chennai bringing together various Malayali associations functioning across India. Spread out in 28 states of the country, this confederation functions primarily in helping non-resident Keralities keep in touch with their culture while also carrying out activities like helping the poor and the stranded. They have an amazing network that helps Malayalees and others in distress with their ever vibrant quick response team (AIMA QRT).

Apart from dedicated philanthropic activities, AIMA also takes measures to ensure the sustenance of the Malayalam language, culture, arts, literature and music with their events. Onam is indeed one of the hallmarks of this association with everything from Pookalam to Sadhya being prepared keeping tradition in mind.

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kalakairaly

Kala Kairali, Shillong, Meghalaya

This association has been around for more than 30 years and in times when only train travel was the most feasible manner of travel to this small North-Eastern state, the association would celebrate Onam by bringing items like coconut tree flowers (‘thengin pookkula’), elephant yam, ‘sharkaravaratti’ and chips all the way from Kerala. Though initially a small group, it has grown with years and now has thousands of members. The association is all set to hold this year’s Onam programme on September 17 and has the Governor of Goa, P.S Sreedharan Pillai as its Chief Guest.

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cork

Cork Pravasi Malayali Association (CPMA), Ireland

One of the largest Malayali community in Ireland, the CPMA, celebrated their “Onnichonam Ponnonam” on August 19 this year. They added frolic to their celebrations with various competitions like ‘Pookalam’, tug of war, Malayalee Manka and Maran, Miss and Master Cork Kerala (kids pageant), cultural fest and live music.


 

HAMMA- Haarlemermeer Malayalis, Netherlands

This year the Haarlemmermeer Malayalis are celebrating their first Onam, as HAMMA'23.

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kairali

Onam has been a part of Malayali celebrations in Netherlands for quite long, the first formalised gathering happened around 20 years ago with a group of 17 families called as NANMA (Netherlands Malayalee Association) with the years we could see a good number of increase and last year witnessed more than 1,000 Keralites for the Onam event, which though wonderful but came with its own challenges. Thus, this year they have decided to celebrate Onam regionally to involve more participation and bring out the bonding within regions and it is with this aim that HAMMA was formed.

Kairali- Belgium Malayali Association, Belgium

This association is all set for an extravagant Onam celebration after the restrictive festivities carried out in the previous years due to the pandemic. They have a variety of events planned for September 17, including performances like semi-classical dance and Thiruvathira. The Indian Embassy of Belgium is one of the sponsors of the event. This association brings together people separated from their homeland. The local governing authorities also join in with the Keralite community for the celebrations.

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Malarvadi Melbourne, Australia

Ever since its inception in 2007, this association has been conducting Onam programmes every year except during the Covid-19 lockdowns. Around 450 people participated in this year’s festivities that included all traditional Onam programmes including Onapattu and tug of war. They are also conducting a basic photography and videography workshop as a part of their Onam programmes.

Associations like this exist all over the world and it is indeed a pride for Kerala that although far, the people never forget their roots.

Northwest Desi Londoners (NWDL), London, UK

This year’s ‘London Onam’, NWDL’s flagship annual event was held across two days in and around Wembley, a prominent location in London between August 27-September 3.  NWDL is a youth-focused group of the Malayali diaspora comprising participating members from several areas across the UK capital, Mansfield, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Oxford, Southampton, and Watford among others.

The celebrations reached a pinnacle on September 3 with a cultural extravaganza titled  ‘The Real Kerala Story’. Be it the Theyyam, folk songs, chendamelam, Thiruvathira, kids' fashion show, or modern contemporary forms of art, everything that represents the South Indian state’s culture was represented on stage. Over 600 attendees came together for a mega Onasadya to culminate the day’s celebrations. 

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London Onam

Rajani Puthuppallymattathil, Theyyam performer who works as a nurse at Ealing Hospital, stole the show with her self-made costume and enthralling performance replicating the centuries-old ritual performed in the sacred groves of Malabar.