Onam is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September) to welcome the spirit of King Mahabeli. Legend has it, that in Kerala during the reign of King Mahabeli, all humans were equal and prosperous. There was no theft, deceit or hunger.
People lived in peace and in harmony with nature. Whether you believe the legend or not, regardless of their religious or social background, Malayalees celebrate Onam as a cultural festival to mark the joy and prosperity of the harvest and have taken this tradition with them when they migrated to different parts of the world.
Onam celebration has been a much-revered occasion in the MAUK annual calendar since the mid-1970s. It is the largest Onam gathering in the UK and is widely supported by the community and local businesses.
OnaSadhya will be held on Saturday 9 September at Trinity Centre in Manor Park, East London.
This year’s celebration will be held SUNDAY, 17 SEPTEMBER AT REDBRIDGE TOWN HALL in Ilford from 14:00 onwards. This year’s festival hopes to raise money for The Gowri Project.
The Malayalee Association of the UK (MAUK) is a charity organisation based at 671 Romford Road, London E12 5AD. From supplementary and cultural classes to elders day centre and lunch club, and currently provides a diverse range of services and activities for the local community. They have a pedigreed record of serving communities in Newham and surrounding areas since 1974 and have been functioning from Kerala House, their centre in Romford Road since 1987.
