IPOH: SOME 600 devotees celebrated Malaysia Day and Onam Celebrations 2014, which was organised by the Perak Malayalee Association (PMA) at the Silibin Cultural Hall here.
The annual affair was held in conjunction with the association’s 50th golden jubilee anniversary.
Event organising chairman R. Udaya Bhanu said the Onam festival was the harbinger of spring signaling the start of the harvest season. It is usually celebrated with traditional fervour, such as folk games, family reunions, gifting of clothes and lots of merrymaking.
“However, the festival was not forgotten by the Malayalee clans here as they would gather every September to honour this harvest festival with fun-filled activities,” he said.
PMA acting president Gopalan Nair described this year’s Onam festival as unique, because the association had organised a 3-in-1 celebration incorporating Malaysia Day, Onam and PMA’s Golden Jubilee.
“The purpose of this event was to keep our Onam tradition alive as well as instil cultural knowledge in our younger generation.
“We have the support of our association members and their children to organise a cultural stage show for audiences such as Indian folk dance, songs performances and sketches,” Gopalan said.
The Onam festivities kicked off with a Indian folk dance, “Pushpanjali”, performed by a group of students from the Sanggetha Natiya Kalanjali Pall, followed by a number of Malayalee songs performed by PMA members.
The highlight of the celebration was a solo Indian classical dance by Dinesh Gopalan Nair.
The event also saw 15 students who did well in their Ujian Pencapaian Sekolah Rendah, Penilaian Menengah Rendah, Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia and Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia receiving cash prizes and certificates from the association.
The association also honoured three PMA members who were recently conferred state awards by the late Sultan of Perak Sultan Azlan Shah.
They were B.T. Silvan, Dr B. Balakumaran and V. Sugumaran, who each received a plaque.
The evening concluded with a presentation of prizes to winners of the children’s colouring contest and lucky draws.
The guest-of-honour was Ceylon Association of Perak president Dr S. Rajadurai.