Classical dance performances are a familiar sight at Onam celebrations. Photo: Supplied
Thousands have attended community events in Auckland, Christchurch, Wellington and Nelson over the past week to commemorate one of the most significant harvest festivals of the Malayali community in New Zealand - Onam.
Onam is observed over a 10-day period during the state's harvest season, which typically falls in August and September.
"Onam unites everyone from all communities in Kerala irrespective of their religion and caste," says Anupama Amaldev, president of the Christchurch Kerala Association.
This year, the festival commenced on Sunday, 20 August, and wrapped up on Tuesday. In addition to its role as a harvest festival, Onam also honours the supposed return from the netherworld of Kerala's beloved mythical king, Mahabali.
Onam celebrations in Kerala typically foster a deep sense of community and belonging among its residents.
Irrespective of religious or cultural backgrounds, people take part in the festival by crafting flower rangolis, known as pookkalam, in front of their homes. Of the festival days, Thiruvonam (the 10th day) is most significant.
Lawmakers Priyanca Radhakrishan, Ginny Anderson and Barbara Edmonds attend the Wellington Onam event. Photo: Supplied
One of the largest gatherings this year occurred at Auckland's Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
Auckland Malayali Samajam (AMS), a community organisation representing the Kiwi-Indian Malayali community hosted the celebration.
"We had approximately 1300 people join in our Onam sadhya and witnessed 32 cultural performances," says Roji Varghese, secretary of AMS.
A traditional sadhya can comprise around 24-28 vegetarian dishes served as a single course, all presented on a banana leaf.
"In New Zealand, Onam signifies celebrating the familiar, which is our language and culture," Varghese says.
He says Onam serves as an occasion for ethnic immigrants to celebrate their presence in the country.
What's more, he highlights how Onam facilitates connections among immigrant-owned small businesses.
"In Kerala, Onam is a way of celebrating our lifestyle," he says, "but here it's much more than that."
A group of young women in traditional attire at the Wellington Onam celebration. Photo: Blooms Image
The event in Auckland featured diverse cultural offerings, ranging from graceful Thiruvathira dances to the vibrant rhythms of Chenda Melam, a widely played percussion instrument in Kerala, performed by the Vadyakala Team.
Megha Sony, president of the Hamilton Kerala Samajam, says the community is looking forward to the upcoming harvest festival.
"We are all set for the day," he says. "People are truly excited about this year's celebrations."
The event, to be held at the Waikato Indian Association Hall, is expected to draw more than 1000 attendees. Alongside cultural events, a tug of war for adults is also planned.
The Onam festivities in Hamilton are scheduled for 9 September.
A traditional sadhya can comprise around 24–28 vegetarian dishes served as a single course, all presented on a banana leaf. Photo: Supplied
In Wellington, the commemoration was orchestrated by the Wellington Malayalee Association at the Indian Association Hall in Kilbirnie.
The event drew approximately 1500 attendees, including lawmakers such as Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Barbara Edmonds, Andrew Little, Ginny Anderson and Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Neeta Bhushan. Wellington Mayor Tony Whanau also joined the festivities.
Prasanth Kurian, president of the Wellington Malayalee Association, says Onam consistently brings the community together and evokes a sense of nostalgia among Keralites.
"Around 1500 individuals were served the Onam sadhya," he says. The event also showcased cultural performances, featuring classical dances from various Wellington-based dance schools.
Kurian highlights the importance of introducing younger generations to the culture and language of India, saying celebrations such as Onam play a crucial role in this regard.
Beyond its role as a harvest festival, Onam also honours the return of Kerala's beloved mythical king, Mahabali. Photo: Supplied
In Nelson, Keralites congregated at the Saxton Field stadium for their Onam festivities. Sijo Thomas, treasurer of the Nelson Malayalee Samajam, points to the festival's wider significance.
"Our aim was to unite all Malayalees in the region under one banner to celebrate this beautiful festival," he says, describing Onam as a festival symbolizing "prosperity and togetherness".
The celebration drew around 240 participants from the Nelson Tasman region.
The Christchurch Kerala Association hosted its 19th annual Onam celebration at the Lincoln Event Centre in Christchurch.
"The main highlight of our event was our chief guest M.G. Sreekumar's performance," Amaldev says.
Sreekumar, a renowned musician from Kerala, performed on stage not only in Christchurch but also in Wellington and Auckland.
Christchurch also showcased a variety of cultural performances, including Thiruvathira, Pulikkali and various dance performances.
A grand Onam sadhya feast was served to approximately 1200 attendees.