The place was vibrant, mood upbeat and the spirits high. The auditorium of hotel Marg Krishnaaya boomed with high energy on Sunday when members of Vijayawada Malayalee Association gathered to celebrate Onam.
Soaking in the festival spirit, Malayalee families walked in sporting the traditional attire. Men went around in the customary white dhoti-kurta while womenfolk sauntered around gracefully in settu mundu. Long strings of fresh jasmine flowers added to the soft fragrance that swathed the vicinity.
‘Pookkalam’ being one of the main highlights of Onam celebration, a contest kept open for everybody to participate, saw overwhelming response. Names of girls and women kept pouring in till the last minute for participation. While the actual programme was scheduled to commence at 10 a.m., participants of ‘pookkalam’ ensured their presence at the venue three hours in advance. Outshining other contenders, Srija, a student of VP Siddhartha Public School, bagged the first prize. The organisers were only too happy to dole out the prize to a non-Malayalee for the first time.
Lakshmi Sarma, Telugu film actress from the city who migrated to do Kerala films and tasted success by bagging lead roles against big names like Mamoothy, was cynosure of all eyes.
Specially invited to be part of the Onam celebrations in Vijayawada, Ms. Sarma effortlessly mingled with the women who were thrilled to be in company of a celebrity.
“Though I hail from Andhra, people of Kerala recognise me better. Malayalee films have given me a new life. I was thrilled to receive a call from organisers of this celebration who wanted me to join them,” said the actress who has acted in 26 Malayalam films.
The cultural programme that had all the traditional folk dance forms of Kerala was relished by the families away from their native land.
The indispensable Onasadya, a smorgasbord of 18 delicacies dished out by a team of cooks brought in from Kerala to keep the authentic flavours of the dishes intact was savoured by one and all.
