Kerala Samajam set to organise ‘Shravanam 2025’ Onam Festival

TDT | Manama

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Bahrain Keralyeeya Samajam (BKS), the mother organisation of Malayali expatriates in the Kingdom, has announced that its annual Onam celebrations, “Shravanam 2025,” will be one of the largest and longest Onam festivals organised outside Kerala.

The announcement was made during a press conference by BKS President P.V. Radhakrishna Pillai, General Secretary Varghese Karakkal, and Festival Committee General Convener Varghese George, who highlighted the diverse range of cultural, artistic, and community programs planned for this year’s edition.

‘Pilleronam’

The festivities began with “Pilleronam” (Children’s Onam), an initiative designed to educate children about the historical and social significance of the festival.

From there, a packed calendar of daily events has been scheduled, drawing together music, dance, competitions, and traditional feasts.

On August 29, the “Ruchi Mela” food festival showcased Kerala’s rich culinary heritage, followed on September 1 by the official inauguration ceremony, “Kodiyettam.”

Tug of war competition

A tug of war competition between expatriate organizations was staged on September 4, and the following day, playback singers Panthalam Balan, Ravishankar, and Pramila performed the songs of the late legendary playback singer P. Jayachandran, accompanied by a commemorative speech by writer Ravi Menon.

September 6 featured folk dances from various Indian states, while September 7 hosted the “Onapudava” (traditional dress) competition.

Cultural programs organised by the BKS Entertainment Division took place on September 8, followed by the “Onappattu” (Onam songs) competition on September 9 and the “Ente Keralam” (My Kerala) quiz on September 10.

Musical night

A musical night on September 11 featured young performers from the “Star Singers” reality show, including Anushree, Nanda, Balaram, and Sreerag. September 12 saw the “Pookkalam” (floral carpet) competition in the morning, culminating in a grand evening concert led by acclaimed singers K.S. Chithra, Madhu Balakrishnan, Nishad, and Anamika.

The following days continued with a mix of competitions and cultural showcases. September 13 featured Payasam and Thiruvathira contests, while September 14 held a traditional costume competition.

Folk music by the Aaravam Maram band was performed on September 15, followed by traditional games on September 16 and 17, and a kabaddi tournament on September 18.

Violin recital September 19 brought a violin recital by maestro Ganga Sasidharan, with a cinematic dance competition staged the next day.