Kerala Samajam: Joy prevails during Onam celebrations in Jamshedpur

King Mahabali was the star attraction

 Mail News Service

Jamshedpur, Sept 11: The natives of Kerala celebrated Onam with fervour in the city on Sunday. Beautiful rangolis were prepared with flower petals and folk songs of Kerala were sung amid drum beats. 15 teams were part of the flower decoration competition ‘Pookala Matsaram’.

Kerala Samajan, Jamshedpur hosted 81st Onam celebrations after a hiatus of two years. 

Traditional dances were also performed on this occasion. ‘Kaikkottikali’, a graceful dance performed by women on Onam and a fun game of ‘Uriyadi’ was also organized, in which a player tries to smash a swinging earthen pot.

As followed in tradition where Onam is celebrated to mark the return of King Mahabali to meet his Praja, Welcoming of Mahabali, was the star attraction of the day, where a member was dressed up like a King strolling among the members and blessed them on this auspicious day.

A grand feast Ona Sadhya (Kerala style lunch shall be served on banana leaves) with more than 20 dishes was organized for the participants at Kerala Samajam, Sakchi. The organizers said more than 1200 people were treated to a variety of mouth-watering delicacies.

Members of various communities shared the festive joy. The dignitaries present included Kerala Samajam Trust president Muralidharan, Kerala Samajam Model School president KPG Nair, general secretary Sunil Kumar and former president Shashi.

Though Onam, a 10-day festival concluded on September 8, marking the day as New Year for the Malayalee community, the celebrations in Kerala Samajam Jamshedpur were held on Sunday.

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of Kerala. It is a festival connected with the return of Asura (demon) King Mahabali, under whose reign everyone lived in happiness and equality.