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By: Meenakshi Nair,
Final year BA Journalism student
Final year BA Journalism student
Bengaluru – Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival was celebrated with great enthusiasm at Ganga Vertica on Saturday, September 28th 2024. One resident commented, “It was a unique debut experience that will take days to get out of”.
Saturday morning Ganga Verticans woke up to witness a big three-meter diameter pookkalam (floral carpet) by the Keralite families living there. The event started off with the pookalam (floral carpet) competition at 7:30 AM. It marked as a symbol of togetherness and instilled a sense of competitiveness in the participants. With the firecrackers detonating, the procession began with seven artists Chendamelum ( Kerala traditional band ) by Jithesh Chandran and team, along with Mahabali. This was the indicator for people to come down and join the celebration. People from various cultural backgrounds came together to commemorate the true meaning of Onam.
Next one was the highly anticipated tug-o-war event, drawing crowds of enthusiastic spectators who were filling the air with drive and electrification. Following that was a chance for children to have some extra run or their own, the spoon race. The story boarding by the resident Prof. Sujit Kumar Chakraborty provided a sense of deeper understanding to why Keralites celebrate Onam. Midday was time for Sadya, a Kerala style feast which tingled the taste buds. The exotic flavours of god’s own country marked as a closure to the first half of the event.
The cultural programs began in the evening with the lighting of the golden lamp and Thiruvatirakali , a testament to Kerala’s cultural heritage. This was followed by little kids dance, Onapattu (Onam songs), and an Onam skit. The highlights were the Mohiniyattom dance performance, a mesmerising blend of elegance and expression. It was performed by Vismaya C A, Sneha K S, and Indulekha Suresh who were trained by the eminent dancer Kalamandalam Kavya. The audience indulged in the graceful movements performed along with the tunes of “Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma” and “Karukare Karmukil”. This was followed by Kathakali, the classical dance drama captivating the souls and inviting a mixture of emotions, performed by Kalamandalam Shijukumar and Kalamandalam Aryajith. An orientation session by Kalamandalam Shijukumar helped audience appreciate the efforts required, meditation, dedication, Navarasas (facial expressions) and Mudras (hand gestures). This was followed by a 25-minute performance of a small snippet from Narakasura vadham (Killing of Narakasura). The prizes were distributed for all the games driving the audience to great cheer.
Onam 2024 celebration left a lasting impression in the hearts of the audience providing an emotional resonance to both the audience as well as organisers.
Saturday morning Ganga Verticans woke up to witness a big three-meter diameter pookkalam (floral carpet) by the Keralite families living there. The event started off with the pookalam (floral carpet) competition at 7:30 AM. It marked as a symbol of togetherness and instilled a sense of competitiveness in the participants. With the firecrackers detonating, the procession began with seven artists Chendamelum ( Kerala traditional band ) by Jithesh Chandran and team, along with Mahabali. This was the indicator for people to come down and join the celebration. People from various cultural backgrounds came together to commemorate the true meaning of Onam.
Next one was the highly anticipated tug-o-war event, drawing crowds of enthusiastic spectators who were filling the air with drive and electrification. Following that was a chance for children to have some extra run or their own, the spoon race. The story boarding by the resident Prof. Sujit Kumar Chakraborty provided a sense of deeper understanding to why Keralites celebrate Onam. Midday was time for Sadya, a Kerala style feast which tingled the taste buds. The exotic flavours of god’s own country marked as a closure to the first half of the event.
The cultural programs began in the evening with the lighting of the golden lamp and Thiruvatirakali , a testament to Kerala’s cultural heritage. This was followed by little kids dance, Onapattu (Onam songs), and an Onam skit. The highlights were the Mohiniyattom dance performance, a mesmerising blend of elegance and expression. It was performed by Vismaya C A, Sneha K S, and Indulekha Suresh who were trained by the eminent dancer Kalamandalam Kavya. The audience indulged in the graceful movements performed along with the tunes of “Bhagyada Lakshmi Baramma” and “Karukare Karmukil”. This was followed by Kathakali, the classical dance drama captivating the souls and inviting a mixture of emotions, performed by Kalamandalam Shijukumar and Kalamandalam Aryajith. An orientation session by Kalamandalam Shijukumar helped audience appreciate the efforts required, meditation, dedication, Navarasas (facial expressions) and Mudras (hand gestures). This was followed by a 25-minute performance of a small snippet from Narakasura vadham (Killing of Narakasura). The prizes were distributed for all the games driving the audience to great cheer.
Onam 2024 celebration left a lasting impression in the hearts of the audience providing an emotional resonance to both the audience as well as organisers.
