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Kerala group keeps Onam tradition rowing in UAE

Abu Dhabi - Here in the UAE, a group of Malayalis, who have been together for 16 years, keep the tradition 'rowing' across the country.

Boat races are a visitors delight during the Onam celebrations in Kerala. Among them, Aranmula boat race is the oldest regatta held in Kerala during Onam season and the most important feature of such a fiesta is 'Vanchipattu' - the song sung in chorus by the rowers aboard a snake boat. Here in the UAE, a group of Malayalis, who have been together for 16 years, keep the tradition 'rowing' across the country.
The group, Dubai Vanchipattu Team, which has some 50 members, are trying to promote the folk song, which showcases the rich tradition and culture of Kerala, in all emirates.
One month prior to every Onam, all the members get together at a 'kalari' (training place) and practise for the season when they will be rushing from one event to another. With the innumerable cultural associations in the country, Onam gets celebrated till Christmas and the 'Vanchipattu Team' has a busy schedule. They perform out of devotion and never ask fees from any associations.
Dubai-based Jayakumar, from temple town of Aranmula, said the folk song is steeped in tradition and mainly sung during Onam.
"We have done some 500 to 1,000 stage performances and every one of them was for free," Jayakumar said after a performance in Mussafah. 
Abu Dhabi-based Aji Vasudev said youngsters in the UAE have taken up the traditional folk song in a big way.
"We have people from all emirates in our group, who are from different parts of Kerala. Core members are from Aranmula and our aim is to make this folk song popular everywhere. You may be surprised that more Malayali kids in the UAE know about 'vanchipattu' than those in Kerala. We have set our 'kalari' in Sharjah. We plan to expand to other emirates too," Vasudev said.
The team brings dresses - mundu (garment worn around the waist), thorthu (towel) and vest - from Kerala and uses them exclusively for performances. 
Talking about feedback from people, Shimji, said: "In the UAE, we have performed for many Indian associations. We have also performed during the UAE National Day in Downtown Dubai. We once performed in a British curriculum school in Al Barsha and were asked by the management for a repeat performance with a model of boat kept on stage." 
The team tries to innovate each year and bring in more people into their fold. 
"We would like to call all interested people to approach us and we will serve them for free," the group members said before performing Bhishma Parvam, a folk song referring to Kurukshetra War from the epic Mahabharata. 
ashwani@khaleejtimes.com