Malayali community celebrates Onam harvest festival in Jesmond

The Malayali community in the Hunter region celebrated Onam, the traditional harvest festival of Kerala, on Saturday, August 29. The event, organized by the Humsam Malayalam Association of Newcastle, took place at Heaton Public School in Jesmond.

Hundreds of community members gathered for an all-day cultural celebration featuring Chenda drums, traditional dance, and music. The festivities included an immense communal feast where meals were served on banana leaves to approximately 800 family members and friends. Jinu Erapurathu, president of the Humsam Malayalam Association, noted that the festival serves as a time for culture, community, and unity.