Bethesda, Maryland Sept.24: For the first time since its inception in 1983, the Federation of Kerala Associations in North America (FOKANA) celebrated ‘Onam’ the national festival of Kerala at the Walt Whitman High School, Bethesda, Maryland under the leadership of its president Dr. Babu Stephen. At least Six Hundred people from all over Washington Baltimore Metro region, Richmond, New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey took part in the celebrations. Most attendees dressed in traditional Kerala attires (Men wearing shirts and dhotis made of Khadi and women wearing Kadhi Set Sarees and matching blouses) re-lived Kerala life in Washington DC.
Kerala’s Harvest Festival ‘Onam’ is celebrated all across Kerala regardless of religious affiliations every year during the month of ‘Chingam’ (the first month of the Malayalam Calendar) which falls between August and September according to the English Calendar. All of Kerala -Hindus, Christians, and Muslims- swing into a festive mood during Chingam and celebrate the festival with vigor and fervor. Keralites, regardless of where they live never forget to celebrate this unique festival with all its pomp and style.
Expatriates from Kerala living in the United States under the auspices of their Regional Kerala Associations celebrate the Onam festival in each of their jurisdictions every year. In the Washingon-Baltimore Metro region, Kerala Association of Greater Washington (KAGW), Kerala Cultural Society (KCS), Kairali of Baltimore, and Kerala Association, Richmond (VA) have all celebrated Onam this year as usual. Until last year, FOKANA aligned with regional organizations to celebrate the event, but for the first time in its forty-year history, Dr. Stephen introduced the idea to celebrate Onam under FOKANA’s leadership and all the regional organizations participated in the grand event which was filled with fun and excitement for all the participants.
Red rice served on banana leaves with at least 15 varieties of delectable vegetarian dishes, which included an array of sweets like Prathman (a kind of porridge made of rice flakes palm jaggery, and other ingredients) vermicelli porridge and baby bananas evoked nostalgic feelings that would never escape one’s memory. Children who normally refuse to eat at home could be seen relishing the new experience of eating on a fresh-cut banana leaf without the use of forks and spoons. The food was so appealing to the palates that after lunch, some could be heard saying “Great food and very tasty”. The entire event was free for the participants as it was totally sponsored by FOKANA.
Cultural programs that followed the lunch organized by Dr. Kala Shai, the secretary of FOKANA, who also is a professional dancer included a variety of dance forms, plays, and Musicals. Regional organizations and professional dance groups displayed their talents which aroused the audience to the peak of excitement. Local singers proved their talents by singing numbers that could enthrall the audience with their canorous voices proving that they were equally on par with professional singers. Chenda Melam, unique to Kerala, performed by both men’s and women’s groups from Baltimore added rhythm and beauty and electrified the whole event.
As a mark of patriotic responsibility, FOKANA under the leadership of Dr. Stephen is also engaged in providing housing facilities for several financially disadvantaged people in the home state of Kerala. He had met with the Kerala Chief Minister Mr. Pinaray Vijayan to discuss and to coordinate FOKANA’s efforts with the government agencies and District Collectors to identify the most deserving candidates.
As president of FOKANA, Dr. Stephen laid out his vision to engage the children of Kerala descent to be active in politics and has met with Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi and several Congressional staffers on Capitol Hill to open up internship opportunities and has already got a few openings. “We should have our youth fully engaged in American politics, and should carve leaders to lead this nation” he beamed while speaking to FOKANA members.
Malayalam Film Actress Sona Nair who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest extolled the virtues of having a worldwide organization like FOKANA which every Keralite all across the world could be proud of.
Though this is the first time FOKANA has celebrated the Onam festival under its own banner, henceforth the FOKANA Onam celebrations will be organized in different states annually during the Onam Season, Dr. Stephen said.
