Dubai's 'Parcel Onam' and more..

Expatriate Keralites in the UAE and other Gulf countries celebrate the harvest festival of Onam today (Sunday, September 07, 2014), a 10-day festival to commemorate the homecoming of a legendry ruler, Mahabali, who is believed to have ruled the state centuries ago.

Every Keralite family, irrespective of their religious believes or social status, have been preparing to celebrate Onam in full swing and the rush has been visible in shopping malls and fruit and vegetable markets.

Various hypermarkets and restaurant chains have been running special campaigns and promotions in anticipation of Onam – Onam competitions, floral carpet laying events - to attract customers.

Since Onam is on a working day, many families will depend on the restaurants and hotels for getting “parcel Onam”.

“Restaurants and hotels are busy preparing the Onam feast for the large number of expatriate bachelors who,” said a restaurant manager.

Social networking sites, like WhatsApp are filled with Onam greetings, while the various radio stations, television channels and newspapers are running special programmes for the occasion.

There is a considerable increase in the volume of fresh vegetables exported to the UAE and other Gulf countries, to meet the Onam demand.

“This year there is a 30 per cent increase in the import of fruits and vegetables from Kerala. Last year some items came from Sri Lanka and other countries. The demand is more for fruits and vegetables from Kerala,” says a vegetable trader.

“We are preparing payasam (sweet dish) for all the non-Malayali residents of our building. We are trying to distribute payasam to nearly 300 families living in our complex to let them know the spirit of Onam,” said Abdul Gafoor K, representing a residents’ association.
 

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.