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For lakhs of Malayalis in Bangalore, it’s another Onam away from home

There are some 12 organisations and associations of Keralites in Bangalore, the oldest being Kerala Samajam founded in 1940.

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For some 12 lakh Malayalis in Bangalore, Onam is bonding time, an annual excuse to indulge themselves in an 18-dish feast and unalloyed festivities, a day of self-willed amnesia to forget the worries of a year and hope for a better time ahead. This is one festival that has no religious tag and is participated by all faiths.
 
There are some 12 organisations and associations of Keralites in Bangalore, the oldest being Kerala Samajam founded in 1940.  They all organise varied cultural festivities on different dates, some even as late as in October!

Senior Malayalis recall that Malayali’s migration to Bangalore began in the late 30’s and picked up speed after the freedom when nationality gave mobility to people. “Onam in Bangalore has always been a sweet affair,” says KK Nair, 80-year-old retired soldier living in RT Nagar. “In fact, most Malayalis have only love and gratitude for Karnataka and there had been no record of animosity between people of these two neighbouring states.

Brig PVR Nair says Onam is perhaps the only occasion in a year when friends and relatives meet and share food. All those who have parents back in Kerala invariably go home. But for those settled with family in Bangalore, it is here they celebrate the memories of the bygone Shangri-La.  Nair recalls that way back in 1947, he spent an Onam day on a worn-out border bridge in Uri sector whose two-third was with India and one-third with Pakistan.

Capt Unnikrishnan, settled for 15 years in Bangalore,  says Onam is such a goodwill festival that Army makes it a point to ensure all Malayali soldiers get a day off that day and make their own ‘barakhana ‘(grand feast). Another soldier, George KG of Kannur, says it was an Onam day he decided to forgive his worst enemy who came for an Onam feast.  Two hallmarks of Onam fest are feast and Pookkalam (floral carpet designs). Onam festival lasts 10 days.

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