Onam celebration plans chalked out

The celebrations will kick off in the morning with ‘Onam pookalam’. Floral decorations from individual associations will be put on display and a panel of judges will be on hand to award prizes to the most aesthetically pleasing ones.

Later in the day, ‘Onam sadhya’, the traditional lunch, will be served on banana leaves. The finest quality ingredients are being flown in from India, and some of the best chefs within the Kerala community in Dubai will be entrusted with the task of preparing the meal.

After lunch, a procession welcoming "King Mahabali", who once ruled Kerala, will take place.

However, the highlight of the celebration will be a musical extravaganza, with performances by a plethora of talented singers, including Kerala State Award winner, Venugopal.

Onam is a festival spread over 10 days. It happens in the month of "Chingam", of the Malayalam calendar and is celebrated by all Keralites, regardless of caste or religion.