By Anil Pandey l Beijing
For Indians living abroad, festivals bring a sense of belonging and joy. This spirit was in full display as the Malayali Association of Beijing celebrated Onam with traditional fervor at the city’s popular Taj Pavilion Restaurant on Sunday.
The event brought together over ninety members of the Indian diaspora, Chinese friends and diplomatic guests for an afternoon of cultural performances and Kerala’s legendary cuisine. A colourful floral pookalam and a life-size cut-out of King Mahabali created a festive ambience. The highlight, Kerala’s traditional vegetarian feast sadya, featuring more than twenty dishes, was served on fresh banana leaves.
The cultural programme reflected the unity and diversity of the community. Members sang in Malayalam, Tamil and Hindi, with Gajendra Sharma impressing with his Malayalam songs. Ketaki Thakar and Leela Bhatt performed the Tamil version of the Roja classic “Chinna Chinna Aasai Siragadikum” and its Hindi counterpart “Dil Hai Chota Sa, Choti Si Aasha.” The duet by Murali Narayanan and Saraswati Narayanan, “Janeman Janeman Tere Do Nayan,” was another highlight, while Satishkumar Sriharan, Suparna Ojha and Srikumar Meethil also captivated the audience. The fact that Hindi and Bengali speakers performed in Tamil and Malayalam underlined how music transcends boundaries and languages.
Indian Embassy’s Deputy Chief of Mission Abhishek Shukla attended the event as chief guest with his wife Saloni Shukla. She presented gifts to participants, adding warmth to the occasion. The Malayali Association’s Suresh Verma coordinated the programme, supported by volunteers Anu Muralidharan, Saraswati Narayanan and Aayushi Sugandhi. Mehrnosh Pastakia of Taj Pavilion made excellent arrangements for the authentic Kerala feast that delighted the gathering.
Suresh Verma, who has been organising Onam celebrations in Beijing for years, said the aim was to keep the Indian community in China connected with its festivals and culture. “Celebrations like Onam make people feel at home even when they are far away from India,” he said.
Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, commemorates the mythical homecoming of the benevolent king Mahabali. It symbolises unity, equality and gratitude for nature’s bounty. In Kerala, the festival is marked with boat races, traditional games and elaborate cultural events. The famed Vallam Kali, or boat race, is among its most iconic attractions.
This year’s Beijing celebration showcased the essence of Onam—community, culture and cuisine—on foreign soil. For the Indian diaspora, it was a reminder that traditions can cross borders and flourish wherever people carry them.
*Anil Pandey is a senior journalist who has been living and working in China for more than 15 years.
