Bengalureans welcome Onam with Pookalam

The City gears up to celebrate Onam on Friday, with Malayalee associations across the line several events to mark the day.

Several IT firms and schools who have declared a holiday on Friday celebrated the festival a day in advance. Children of Anweshana Montessori House of Children at HBR Layout were asked to bring flowers for Pookalam in the school. The children came home delighted with a box of chips. Children of Gangothri School also were asked to bring flowers to the school for decoration.

With a long weekend ahead, most of the Keralites in the City headed to their hometowns on Thursday. Anticipating the rush in view of Thiru Onam, the KSRTC has made elaborate arrangements till September 1 by deploying additional buses.

Pookalam was a welcome for anyone walking into the ABC Consultants on the St Marks Road where Onam was observed on Thursday. In the Silicon City that has a mix of people from various cultural background, those from Kerala organised events at workplaces, while the others took part in it enthusiastically.

Restaurants in the City are ready with an array of dishes on their platter and the list of delicacies is endless. Rasa in Indiranagar has at least 22 items on their menu for Onam. Speaking to Deccan Herald, Lijo Jose, manager, Rasa, said besides offering Kerala delicacies, the restaurant has been decked up with floral decorations.

Kerala delicacies

“We offer vegetarian food. On our menu for Friday is avial, kalan, erissery, mango pulissery, pavakka pachadi, pineapple and black grapes kichdi, besides desserts,” he said.  Most City restaurants who are offering Kerala delicacies on their menu have close to 150 pre-bookings.

The Kerala Samajam has organised several competitions for schoolchildren. For their members and the public, on the occasion of Onam, the Samajam organises an annual Onam Fair as well.

Kudala Kerala Samajam has organised PonOnam 2015 which will be held on September 12 and 13 at the Whitefield Banquet Hall, EPIP Area, Near Vydehi Hospital, ITPL.

As part of the programme, musical orchestra has been organised. Maddala Thayambaka, dance performance by Kalaimamani Gopika Varma, cultural programmes by KKS members and Ona Sadhya are the other events planned for.