The Perak Malayalee Association recently celebrated their Onam Festival, otherwise called their Harvest Festival, which they co-celebrated with Malaysia Day.
Over 600 members from the community, some from as far as Sitiawan, gathered at the Ipoh Town Hall on Sunday October 6. The actual Onam celebration was on September 16. As it coincided with Malaysia Day it was postponed and a joint celebration organised.
The event which was scheduled from 1pm till 5pm featured the community’s traditional vegetarian lunch, cultural activities and dances performed by their members and the presentation of awards for academic excellence, appreciation and a children’s art competition.
The event was graced by the presence of the President of the All Malaysia Malayalee Association (AMMA) Tan Sri Datuk Ravindran Menon. Other VIP guests present included Deputy CPO Perak, Datuk A. Paramasivam, Tuan Azizul Kama Abdul Aziz the Deputy Secretary to 2nd Finance Minister Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadziah as well as PMA President Mr R. Narayanan.
Before the start of the speeches the VIPs participated in the lighting of the Nilavilakku, the traditional lamp used commonly in Kerala and South India. AMMA President Ravindran in his speech said the community should be proud to be Malaysian as despite its diversity there was unity through the government’s policy of inclusiveness.
Ravindran also thanked Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib as well as 2nd Finance Minister Dato’ Seri Husni Hanadziah for the government’s financial contributions to the community which totaled over RM8 million recently, which he said would be utilized to improve the economic standing of the community.
PMA President R. Narayanan thanked his hard working committee for their positive efforts to make the event memorable and encouraged more Malayalee’s to be members.
JAG
