Annual meet’s highlight: a grand ‘onasadhya’.
By The American Bazaar Staff
NEW YORK: The Malayalee Association of Southern Connecticut (MASCONN) celebrated the festival onam, the onset of the harvest festival, on September 6 at the Madison Middle School, Trumbull, CT.
The more than four-hour long event, which included cultural performances by children and community members, and a traditional luncheon feast, known as ‘onasadhya’, was attended by around 300 people.
The annual event was an effort to relive the rich culture and traditions of Kerala, to cherish the way of life in the state, with a view to inculcate and pass that on to the younger generation, who grow up in America.
Celebrated around the world by Malayalees, traditional onam festivities last for 10 days. At the crux of celebrations is the legend of King Mahabali, who once lived in a golden era, in Kerala. It’s said the king is so much attached to his kingdom that he comes annually to visit his people. It’s in honor of the king, affectionately called Onathappan, that the festival of onam is celebrated.
In his onam message, Dr. Babu Joseph, a visiting professor from India, told the audience that the “beauty of the festival lies in its secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and fervor. Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports organized on the day.â€
Giby Gregory, president of MASSCON, in his welcome address, said: “MASCONN is an offshoot of the natural growth of the Indian American, especially Malayalee community in the southern Connecticut region.†He added: “In a very short period, we have grown by leaps and bounds and we strive to meet the growing needs of our community.â€
Like every year, a person dressed up as King Mahabali was welcomed to the stage with loud cheers from the audience, to the tunes of ‘pancha vadyam’. A troupe of dancers from the community – Mini Ajay, Mini Joji, Erin Denny, Suja Krishnan, Leena, Buela John, Vineetha Sujanan and Smitha Mathew – performed Thiruvathirakkali, a folk dance, rhythmically moving around a lighted lamp, a ‘nilavilakku,’ singing and clapping their hands, to the tune of a particular genre of songs called ‘Thiruvathirappaattu’.
The highlight of the proceedings was a sumptuous ‘onasadhya’ served on banana leaves, the main attraction of the day.
(This story was revised on September 9, 2014)