Onam in UAE : How Keralites and the Government Make It a Spectacular Festival

Onam, the highly colourful and vibrant harvest festival of Kerala in India has slowly but steadily found a special place in the UAE. With quite a large population of Keralites residing and working in the Emirates, the Onam Celebration in UAE has grown into one of the most awaited cultural events of the year. From traditional rituals to grand feasts, Onam binds communities across the UAE into one thread, making it a symbol of harmony.

Importance of Onam in UAE

Onam in the UAE is not mere festival time, but a celebration of rich cultural heritage from Kerala. With the majority share of Indian expatriates from Kerala, Onam reminds them of their roots and gives them an opportunity to pass on their traditions to the next generations. It will also reflect unity, joy and a sense of belonging among Keralites and non-Keralites in the UAE by adding strength to community ties within the country.

Government of UAE Support towards Onam Celebration

The UAE government offers full support to the celebrations of Onam, knowing the importance of the festival among the Indian expatriates; mainly, the Keralites is a big workforce and business group in the UAE. Events and festivals supported by governments will ensure that the Onam is celebrated in a big way in various venues across the Emirates with traditional performances, games and the famous Onam Sadya. This again underlines not only the UAE's commitment to multi-culturalism but also further cements its commitment to the basic principle of respecting and celebrating diversity in traditions.

Keralite Investors and their Participation in Onam Celebrations

Many of the major investors in the UAE happen to be from Kerala, and these business leaders among Keralites contribute much in their own way to enhance the grandeur of Onam celebration in UAE. They make enough contributions to different community organizations and sponsorships for organizing large events with equal enthusiasm across various emirates. These business leaders sometimes hold big-time feasts with various cultural performances to bring Kerala right into UAE.

Onam Celebrations in UAE

How Onam is celebrating in UAE is a perfect blend of tradition with modernity. The celebrations begin with cultural programs, traditional music and dance events like Kathakali and Thiruvathira. Competitions in flower decorations, known as Pookkalam and tug of war, along with other traditional games, are organized by different organizations in the UAE. The feast is crowning the grand Onam Sadya, a sumptuous vegetarian meal. The elaborate procession and an array of artistic performance add to the aura of gaiety and festivity.

Different Onam Celebration Venues in UAE

Onam celebrations take place in different parts of UAE. With each different venue offering a range of festivities, some of the prominent Onam celebration venues in UAE include:

Dubai: Most Indian associations and cultural clubs organize big Onam events. The Dubai Government extends all support to them for this occasion. Thousands attend public halls and cultural centres for their traditional feasts and performances.

Abu Dhabi: Among others, the Kerala Social Centre presents Onam events that involve cultural programs, feasts, and competitions for all ages.

Sharjah: As Sharjah has a very energetic expatriate community, large gatherings are common, with many schools and organizations in this emirate organizing events for Onam.

Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah: In the smallest emirates, too, celebrations do take place but on a lesser scale, making sure that every Keralite in the UAE is bound to be a part of it.

Why Onam is Important in the UAE

Onam in the UAE is not just a cultural event but can also be seen as a reflection of UAE's cosmopolitan character, where every community is welcome to join in and celebrate their festivals. The strong support that the UAE government has extended is indicative of its attempt at being tolerant of varied cultures and being inclusive. It is associated with a sense of nostalgia-a feeling of home for the Keralites who come to UAE, for oneness, as it upholds cultural identity even while away from home.

In short, Onam in UAE epitomizes the coexistence of cultures in Emirates. With government support being strong, and invested efforts from Keralite investors and organizations, Onam is celebrated with pomp and splendor, thereby retaining the spirit of Kerala alive in the UAE.