The UK Malayali Association celebrated Onam (Kerala’s Harvest Festival) on the 21st of September with a vibrant and festive gathering and some familiar faces joined the Mayayali community to celebrate the Onam Festival in Bridges, the community centre in Drybridge.

Sharon White, Helen Smith, Jessica Vaughan and younger sister Imogen Jenkins were dressed in silk sarees and bedecked with jasmine flowers, and Philip Jones was wearing a traditional indian tunic with a mandarin collar especially for the occasion.

The event was inaugurated by Ben Handley the director of Mandarin Stone in Monmouth and manyKerala employees and their families dressed in traditional Indian costume.

The celebration showcased beautiful cultural performances.

A highlight of the event was the traditional Onasadhya, a sumptuous feast served on emerald green banana leaves offering an authentic taste of Kerala.

The joyous atmosphere marked by traditional attire music dance and an Onam floral decoration (Pookkalam) made this Onam celebration a truly memorable occasion for the Malayali community in Monmouth 

Ladies wore silk sarees and jasmine flowers, as it is believed that the fragrance of jasmine flowers pleases Lord Hanuman and symbolizes purity, love, and dedication. Devotees of Lord Hanuman often offer jasmine garlands to Hanuman idols or temples as a way of expressing their love and seeking his blessings.

Onam, founded on the fable of the return of a beloved fairy tale king banished by jealous Gods to the netherworld, has evolved over the years into a secular national festival and cultural holiday for Keralites.

Organised under the auspices of the Malayalee Associations, the Keralas use the occasion to showcase their linguistic, culinary and societal uniqueness to the world. Kerala is a state on the Malabar Coast of India, formed on 1 November 1956, is the 21st largest Indian state by area