Onam, celebrated in Kerala, is a festival associated with joy, community, and pride in their culture. Despite being far away from home, Dubai Malayali expats living in Dubai should not worry about missing the festival. Dubai is truly one of the best places outside of Kerala to experience Onam. With a large Malayali community, cultural events and genuine food experiences, the festival experience is just as exciting as being back home in Kerala. If you are Malayali expat living in Dubai, see below for the many ways you can enjoy Onam to the fullest.
Celebrate Onam With Community Gatherings
One of the significant aspects of Onam is the feeling of being together. In Dubai, each year, various Malayali associations, cultural organizations, and expat groups are responsible for organizing the community Onam celebration. Onam celebrations generally include cultural performances, traditional dance such as Thiruvathira and Kaikottikali, musical programs and games with an Onam theme for kids. Attending such events helps you to enjoy the spirit of Kerala while socializing with other Malayalam speakers in the city.
Organizations such as Kerala Samajam, youth clubs, and diverse cultural organizations often reserve large halls or stadiums, where thousands of people gather to participate in some celebration. Visiting expats longing for their family and friends back home, nonetheless, will get a sense of homecoming and knot togetherness in community.
Experience the Grand Onam Sadhya in Dubai
No Onam is considered complete without a traditional feast called the Sadhya. The Sadhya is served on a banana leaf and includes more than 20 different varieties of dishes, making it the centerpiece of the celebration. Dubai’s substantial and vibrant community of Malayali expats are lucky to have many restaurants and catering services that offer their customers authentic Onam Sadhya each year. From smaller family-run restaurants with an authentic menu in Karama and Bur Dubai to five-star hotels in Downtown Dubai and Palm Jumeirah, the Sadhya is now established as one of the major attractions of the city’s culinary calendar.
Numerous restaurants provide the option of dine-in or takeaway Sadhya boxes, which are great for families. Whether you are looking for avial, olan, thoran, sambar or the sweet payasam, you can find every authentic dish in Dubai! To avoid disappointment, it is advisable to book your Sadhya ahead of time because restaurants and catering businesses tend to book out quickly during festival season.
Dress in Traditional Kerala Attire
Onam is also about celebrating the richness of tradition. In Dubai, for instance, many Malayali expatriates don the traditional Kerala saree and mundu for Onam celebrations. Fortunately, finding these items is not a challenge, with many textile shops located in Meena Bazaar, Karama, and Al Fahidi. Furthermore, jewelry stores in Dubai often showcase special gold jewelry collections specifically for Onam. Wearing traditional attire doesn’t just keep traditions alive, but it certainly adds another layer of festivity and color to family gatherings and celebrations.
Enjoy Onam Cultural Shows and Stage Performances
Dubai offers a broad range of cultural events during Onam that feature professional artists from Kerala and local performers. The artists that perform on stage may include Kathakali, mimicry, musical concerts and comedy skits, providing a small taste of the rich arts & culture of Kerala to the UAE. Large spaces such as the Sheikh Rashid Auditorium in Oud Metha, and World Trade Centre host mega Onam events with stars and celebrities exhibitions. These celebrations allow expatriates to be authentically entertained, while feeling connected to their home heritage and culture.
Create Onam Vibes at Home
Although large gatherings are energizing, many families opt for a home Onam. You can achieve the festivities by creating a pookalam of fresh flowers at home, preparing a smaller version of the Onam Sadhya dishes, and inviting a few close friends. This is when supermarkets in Dubai, catering for the harvest season, stock flowers, banana leaves, and groceries from Kerala to make it easier for Akka’s people to celebrate. Regardless of the size of your family, the enjoyment of the day remains when everyone is at home and the traditions are simple.
Participate in Online Onam Celebrations
As there is a transition into the digital community, online Onam programs have sprung up with many of the Malayali community members in Dubai Activities such as virtual cultural competitions, online pookalam competitions, and live-streamed events give even those who are unable to attend in-person functions the ability to take part in the celebration. Along with other social media aspects while coordinators are constructing a culture within the virtual realm, the expat community is using social media to publish their online Onam events, traditional costumes, and food Sadhyas that all feel connected irrespective of distance.
