NewZNew (Chandigarh) : Thousands of Malayalees residing in and around Chandigarh are all geared up to celebrate the Onam festival with full zeal in the city on Sunday, 23 august September 2009 at Community Centre, Sector 47, Chandigarh.
Rich cultural heritage of Kerala would come out in its best form and spirit during the ten day long festival. In handigarh the celebrations of Thiruonam<http://www.
According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam. People have made elaborate preparations to celebrate it in the best possible manner in the city in which lot of nortrh Indians are also expected to participate.
The main attraction would be a colorful cultural program Thiruvathirakali, a very popular dance form of Kerala, by a group of ladies wearing the traditional dress – “set sarees & mullappoo (gajra)”.
[11 essential dishes for Onasadya]”Kaikottikkali spreads the message of joy and also brings out the emotions of a married woman towards her beloved and of the unmarried woman longing for one. The dance form involves very graceful and simple steps that highlight the essence of Kerala’s beauty. The tune and the lyrics are very sweet, simple and are related in many ways to everyday life”, said Mr Aravindakshan, President, KERALA SAMAJAM (Regd.), Chandigarh, “Such celebrations indeed illustrate the unity in diversity in India’s rich cultural heritage and bring people closer surpassing all regional barriers”, further added Mr Aravindakshan .
It would be followed by Traditional feast Onasadya. Onasadya is a pure vegetarian nine course meals consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes served on banana leaves prepared by a professional team from Ambalappuzha, Kerala.
