The Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam’s (BKS) Onam celebrations continued last night with a tug-of-war competition at its premises in Segaya.
Members of the Indian community competed in the traditional sport where two teams pulled on opposite ends of a rope, with the goal of bringing the rope a certain distance in one direction against the force of the opposing team’s pull.
Celebrated primarily by those from the Indian state of Kerala, Onam honours the legendary King Mahabali, whose reign symbolised prosperity, equality and unity.
For Keralites living abroad, the festival represents a ‘homecoming of the heart’, and according to the BKS, the celebrations in Bahrain are ‘the largest and longest’ abroad.
The official flag-hoisting on Tuesday marked the formal start of Onam at BKS.
This evening, there will be a tribute musical concert at 8pm to the late Indian playback singer P Jayachandran by Pandalam Balan, Ravi Sankar and Prameela with Ravi Menon as special guest.
Tonight’s concert will mark Thiruvonam, which is the pinnacle of Onam celebrations in the Indian state of Kerala, and is considered by some to be the most important and auspicious day of the festival.
It represents unity, optimism, and a deep connection between a noble ruler and his subjects.
&uuid=(email))