Thousands of Keralites across New Zealand have celebrated Onam in recent weeks, keeping alive the colour, food and traditions of the South Indian state’s harvest festival while bringing communities together.
Onam is a 10-day festival observed in Kerala, usually between mid-August and mid-September.
It celebrates the harvest and honours the mythical King Mahabali, who is believed to return to Kerala during the festival.
Onam celebrations in Kerala typically foster a deep sense of community and belonging among its residents.
The festival is also known for bringing people together across religious and cultural backgrounds, with traditions including making flower arrangements, known as pookkalam, outside homes.
Onam began on 16 August this year. The festival ended Wednesday, with Thiruvonam, the 10th and most significant day, falling today.
Sadhya, a traditional vegetarian feast, is a central part of Onam celebrations.
Thotz photography
In Auckland, celebrations were led by Auckland Malayali Samajam, which brought more than 1300 people together at Westlake School on Sunday.
“We were delighted by the overwhelming response from the community,” said Auckland Malayali Samajam president Subhash Reghunathan.
“For us, Onam is much more than a festival. It is about togetherness, equality, sharing and preserving our cultural heritage while proudly contributing to New Zealand’s diverse multicultural society,” Reghunathan said.
“Seeing families, young people and friends from different communities gather in such large numbers made this year’s celebration truly memorable.”
Reghunathan said the event featured the traditional Onam sadhya, an elaborate vegetarian feast, as well as cultural performances and a concert led by singer and musician Vidhu Prathap.
In Tauranga, the Association of Tauranga Malayalee Aotearoa brought the community together at Te Puna Hall on 22 August.
Healthcare workers celebrate Onam at Middlemore Hospital’s Emergency Department in Auckland.
Supplied
Another celebration was held at Auckland’s Middlemore Hospital, where healthcare workers and their families gathered to keep Onam traditions alive during one of the toughest winters the country’s hospitals have faced.
“These kinds of events help us maintain a good bond, strengthen our relationships and support each other through our busy work lives,” said Amal Joseph, an emergency department nurse at Middlemore Hospital.
He said more than 100 people attended, with cultural programmes and games included in the celebration.
In Wellington, another healthcare workers’ association led the capital’s Onam celebrations earlier this month at the Indian Association Hall in Kilbirnie.
“For many healthcare workers celebrations like this are hard to attend in most cases of the nature of their work so we wanted to do something for our peers who are working in high pressure environment,” said Prince Antony, executive member of Medicare Wellington and emergency department nurse at Wellington Hospital.
Antony worked as a nurse in Kuwait for more than two decades before moving to Wellington three years ago.
“Medicare Wellington was formed last year to support healthcare workers and their families,” he said.
Antony said more than 500 healthcare workers from Kerala were working at the hospital, with many having moved to New Zealand in the past three years.
“We planned a celebration just for the healthcare community but then decided to open it to the public. We were surprised by the interest and saw more than 1000 people attend the event,” he said.
Community members perform the traditional Thiruvathirakali dance at Wellington’s Onam celebrations.
Supplied
Like Auckland, Wellington’s celebration featured Onam sadhya and cultural programmes organised by the community.
Another celebration is scheduled for Saturday, 29 August, at the Indian Association Hall in Kilbirnie, organised by the Wellington Malayalee Association.
In the South Island, the Malayali community also held multiple celebrations to mark the festival.
The Nelson Malayalee Association organised a celebration at Richmond New Life Church on Saturday, while the community in Dunedin celebrated the following day at Dunedin Town Hall.
In Christchurch, the Christchurch Kerala Association held a celebration at Lincoln Event Centre on Saturday, bringing nearly 1000 people together for a day of tradition, culture and music.
“Onam holds a special place in the hearts of Malayalis around the world,” said Christchurch Kerala Association secretary Subhash Muraleedharan.
“For the Christchurch Malayali community, it is an opportunity to preserve and share Kerala’s rich traditions and cultural heritage in New Zealand,” he said.
A classical dance performance during Auckland’s Onam celebrations on Sunday.
Thotz photography