CUTTACK: A few houses have conspicuously stood out in the festivities that have marked the roads, thoroughfares, lanes and bylanes of the millennium city for celebration of Ganesh Puja. The houses are swathed in a riot of colour with visitors and guests welcomed through a dazzling display of floral carpets on the verandahs and corridors. Inside, they are treated to a mouth-watering array of vegetarian dishes and sweets. It is Onam and the houses belong to the Malayalee community. With not more than 200 families in the city at present, the community members have continued with the the cultural traditions of the land of their origin, Kerala, celebrating the festivals with equal fervour. This was reflected in the celebration of the 10-day festival of Onam by the Kerala Samajam here. The festival marks the homecoming of the King Mahabali, the mythical king who ruled Kerala. Along with the festivities in the houses, the Samajam organised a public function replete with rituals and traditions. Inaugurated by the Principal of Cambridge School, Thomas, the function was marked by typical folk dances of Thiruvathira Kali, Kaikotti Kali, Thumbi Thullal and Polikalli. The traditional was interspersed with contemporary dances by the Gen-Y members of the community and a comedy show. The Samajam, which has instituted cash awards for meritorious students, also conferred the scholarships on two toppers of CBSE and ICSE this year. A community feast was also organised. The festival also celebrates the harvest season, general secretary R Vijaya Kumar said. Among others, president G Alexander and advisor V Vijayakumar were present.
Comments
0 comment