Gods own festival!

HYDERABAD: Intricate flower beds elegantly arranged, women dressed in their traditional mundum neriyathum, Kerala saree,  and an array of lip-smacking delicacies, all set for welcoming Onam, which will be celebrated on September 9 this year. The Nair Service Society (NSS) held its sixth Onam celebrations at the Zoroastrian club on Sunday. Malayalam film star, Madhu was the chief guest of the event. The Nair Service Society aims at promoting the cultural, educational and social well-being of the members of the society residing in twin cities. On the occasion, various scholarships were distributed to children, elders (Karavanaras) were honoured and Nair Services Society’s newsletter, Sevanam, the Onam edition, was also released.  Talking about the festival,  Onam marks the homecoming of King Maveli and falls during Chingam (August-September), the first month in the Malayalam calendar. It lasts for ten days and and each day is linked to many elements of Kerela’s culture and tradition, including the snake boat races, very popular in Kerela. Though not for the races, Hyderabad did witness, flower beds, an elaborate banquet lunch and Puli Kali and the Kaikottikkali dance performances by young girls. Kaikottikkali also known as, Thiruvathirakali is a dance performed by women, in order to attain an everlasting marital bliss, on Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January). Thiruvathirakali, these days, has become a popular dance form for all seasons. The sinuous movements is executed by dancers around a nilavilakku, embodiment of ‘lasya’ or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, pirouetting pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing. In love with this dance form is one resident of Miyapur, Dr Parvati Ramani. “My favourite part of Onam is this dance form. Like there is bhangra for Punjabis and garbha for Gujaratis, Kaikottikkali is our traditional folk dance. I also love the songs, on which this dance is performed.”Many Malayalis living in the city say they miss Kerela, specially during Onam. Arun John, a professor at St Francis, says, “For people who have moved onto different cities, Onam is the festival of memories. I miss home so much. Specially for the paayasam and saadhya.”The events organised by these societies have created a “home away from home” for all the Malayalis living in the city. One such Malayali Divya Nambiar, a corporate communications executive says, “During Onam I really miss being away from home. It is a very special festival for us. The whole city lights up, the pookkalam (flower rangoli) brightens up every house and ten days of never ending celebrations.” She adds, “I miss all that, but I celebrate it with my friends here. We go to one of the Malayali restaurants that serve sadhya-the traditional Kerela style feast on the Onam day. There are many Malayali societies like the Nair Service Society, that also host programmes and gives us a felling of home away from home.”