Whangārei Malayalee Association invites all to the annual celebration. Photo / Supplied
Whangārei Malayalee Association invites all to the annual celebration. Photo / Supplied
If you fancy a feast of over 21 different dishes on a banana leaf, head down to Expo Hall Forum North for Whangārei Malayalee Association's Onam Celebration on August 17.
Onam is a vibrant South Indian festival and a celebration of prosperity, hope, and joy. It is the harvest festivaland most popularly celebrated by Malayalees – people from the southernmost state of India.
Everyone is invited to the cultural night which has a variety of folk dances, food and fun indoor games in store.
Traditional dance form - Thiruvathirakali - of Kerala performed at Onam Festival 2019. Photo / Supplied.
The English translation of "Onam Sandhya, the feast, is "thank you for the feast", which includes more than 21 traditional vegetarian dishes served in a particular order on a banana leaf.
Whangārei mayor Sheryl Mai and MP Emily Henderson had also RSVP'd for the cultural experience.
Whangārei MP Emily Henderson accepts the invitation for the South Indian Onam Festival 2021. Photo / Supplied
After a 2020 hiatus due to Covid-19, WMA president Shaji Cherian was very happy to announce the return of the annual Onam festival and said they were expecting people to come out in big numbers.
The festivities provided hope to people around the globe waiting to reunite with their families, said Cherian.
"It gives us hope the families will be reunited and things will get back to normal in the coming year, just like we are back with the celebration this year.
