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Traditional clothing, flowers, long wait times: How UAE’s Kerala diaspora celebrates Onam – News

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People flock to Dubai’s popular restaurants to taste Onasadhya



Photo: Shihab

Photo: Shihab

Posted: Posted on September 8, 2022 at 5:46 pm

Last update time: Posted on September 8, 2022 at 6:18 pm

Thousands of Malayali diaspora in the UAE dressed in traditional attire, made colourful pookalams and waited on Thiruvonam, the last day of the ten-day countdown to Onam Long time to wait for their annual feast Onasadhya.

Onam is a harvest festival celebrated by Kerala people all over the world, usually accompanied by many cultural programmes.

Huge crowds flock to Calama’s popular restaurant for their annual feast – Onasadhya. Some expats have to wait up to two hours to get their practice. “We booked (a table) and expected some crowds,” said Anish, who was waiting with a group of friends. “But it was way beyond our expectations.” Others arrived as early as 11 to beat the crowd.

Onasadhya is a feast of rice and several different curries, each designed to activate our taste buds. While kimchi is designed to promote gut health, sambhar and rasam ensure good digestion and nutritional value.

Flowers are an integral part of Onam celebrations, as families decorate the entrances of their homes with elaborate floral rugs called Athapookalam. Several offices and businesses have created these floral rugs using fresh, colorful flowers and petals.

Historically, Ao Nang celebrates Kerala’s mythical king Mahabali, who is said to be a just ruler. It is common for people to dress up as pot-bellied rulers with umbrellas during celebrations.

For 2.5-year-old Yoshihiko, this is the first Onam he has experienced since the Covid-19 pandemic. He is wearing a traditional mundu Kerala attire and shirt, posing in front of the pookalam.

Colleagues and friends Keerthy, Shruthi and Mouushami stopped to take a selfie with this Mahabali as they enjoyed Onasadhya with their office colleagues in Karama.

Many expats take time out of their busy schedules to enjoy Onasadhya at restaurants around the city with their friends and family.

Keralite Sai Krishna brought her non-Malay colleagues Aiyappa and Charu, who were dressed in traditional Malay clothing. “It’s a bit difficult to balance the mundu (loincloth) with the towel on the shoulders,” Charu says.

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