Kerala expats gear up to celebrate Onam with fervour

The expatriate community from Kerala in the Sultanate of Oman is gearing up to celebrate the traditional festival of Onam with great gaiety and fervor. Thousands of expatriates are eagerly anticipating the festive spirit, filling their hearts with nostalgia for their homeland.

Across Oman, various cultural organizations, Indian Social Club chapters, community associations, and business establishments have organized a wide array of celebrations for the coming weeks. Preparations are in full swing, with colorful events planned in different regions. Thiruvonam, the main day of the festival, falls on August 26 this year, with celebrations commencing on August 16 with Atham. Each of the 10 days of Onam holds its own significance, and the festival also marks the beginning of the New Year for the people of Kerala, known as 'Kolla Varsham'.

The concluding day, Thiruvonam, is traditionally marked by family gatherings, enjoying the Onam feast, and exchanging gifts. Hypermarkets and supermarkets are witnessing heavy crowds as families shop for flowers to create traditional floral carpets, known as Pookkalam. Expatriate families are also purchasing traditional attire, including kasavu sarees, mundus, and kurtas, to wear and to gift to family members and friends.

Onam celebrations are deeply associated with values such as equality, justice, and the vision of a prosperous society. The myths surrounding Onam emphasize societal cohesion, the accountability of rulers to their people, and the pursuit of a more equitable society. According to Hindu tradition, Onam celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabali, the greatest king of Kerala, who was banished from his kingdom by Lord Vishnu. Mahabali secured a boon to visit his land once a year, and his annual return is celebrated during Onam.