Griffith Onam Celebration 2024 : A Grand Success
On 14th September 2024, the Malayalee community of Griffith came together to celebrate Onam in a vibrant and unforgettable event held at Binya Hall. The celebration was a colorful affair, filled with cultural activities, traditional games, delicious Onasadhya, and unforgettable performances that left everyone in high spirits.
The event was spearheaded by the dedicated coordination of Sonu Thomas, the chief organizer, with an incredible team managing each aspect of the celebration. The food committee, led by Johnson, Soji, and Vinod, worked tirelessly to ensure the grand Onasadhya was a culinary delight, with various Malayalee families each contributing a traditional dish. The finance of the event was expertly managed by Robin, and games were made exciting by the efforts of Vinu and Adithya. Chinnu and Aishwarya ensured the cultural activities were spectacular, while Neethu, Linda, and Bessy took charge of engaging the kids with fun and memorable activities.
One of the highlights was the vibrant Pookkalam (floral arrangement), meticulously created by Susmitha, Liji, Bessy, and Linda, adding a touch of Onam tradition to the hall. The beautiful Nilavilakku (traditional lamp) lighting ceremony was presided over by elders Raju Cyriac, Pushpa K Joseph, Raju Yohannan, Valsamma Raju, Abraham, Solly Abraham, Thankamma, and Kunnumpurath Uduppu Poulose, honoring the community’s values and traditions.
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The stage, beautifully decorated by Anand and Vinod, set the perfect ambiance for a day of festivities. The day kicked off with a warm welcome speech by Sherin George, followed by a heartfelt prayer song by Jyothi Manoj. The first performance of the event was the traditional Thiruvathira dance, setting the tone for a day of cultural pride. Lionel Jerrish then delivered an eloquent and easy-to-understand Malayalam speech about the significance of Onam, making it accessible for everyone present.
Throughout the day, there were exhilarating performances, including a lively Pulikali (tiger dance) by enthusiastic parents and kids, songs by Brighton Jose and Sheeja Mathew, and games like Tug of War and the classic “Sundharikku Pottu Thodal”. The games were supervised by Vinu, Adithya, and Bessy, ensuring everyone enjoyed themselves.
Photography and videography for the event were handled by Anil Bernard and Aneesh A V, who captured the day’s best moments. The photos were shared via a cloud storage link, and the videos, including event highlights, were uploaded to the Griffith Malayalees’ YouTube channel.
In addition to the festivities, Chinnu Vinod was the outstanding Master of Ceremonies, keeping the energy high throughout the event. The day concluded with an epic indian fusion dance mix, curated by Anil Bernard, where many of the attendees, including Soji Philip, Kajal Aneesh, Susmitha John, Sherin George, Govind, Anand, Vinod, Anil, Chinnu, Aishwarya, Anlima Santo, Bessy Mathew, Lincy Agnal, Chinju George, and more, joined in for a freestyle performance that got everyone on their feet.
The program began at 10 AM and wrapped up at 5:30 PM, marking a huge success and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Feedback from the attendees was overwhelmingly positive, and the event brought the community closer together. Plans for future events are already in motion, ensuring the spirit of Onam and the unity of the Griffith Malayalees continues to thrive.
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You can view the event videos at youtube.com/@GriffithMalayalees.
