– Onam, the celebration of the home-coming of King Mahabali was celebrated as a hope for good health, peace, happiness and all good things in the coming days
New Delhi, September 01, 2020: Continental Hospitals, Hyderabad celebrated Onam, a harvest festival of Kerala to honor all frontline warriors engaged in the fight against COVID-19, especially a large number of nurses from Kerala. At Continental, Onam celebrations where done by making a big Pookalam, Onam Kalikal and of course with the special Onam Sadya, a grand lunch with 20 – 25 dishes, traditionally served on a banana leaf.
However, the Malayalee festival, is missing its usual charm this year. The pandemic that have overwhelmed whole world have had a ripple effect this time. “We celebrate Onam to commemorate a glorious past. All of us desire for a time like that of King Mahabali, a time when prosperity, joy, health and love blended. In order to achieve this dream, we need to put forward unconventional and sustained efforts” said Ms Haritha Vijayan, Chief Nursing Officer, Continental Hospitals.
The festival ambiance was created with a large floral carpet or Pookalam. More than 200 staff members participated in the festivities, which included the traditional dance of Thiruvathira, musical performance of Onapattukal followed by various traditional games. The staff, especially the Malayalee community of Continental hospitals was able to relive the happiness of Onam this way even while being away from home and battling the pandemic.
Onam commemorates the return of mythical demon King Mahabali who was displaced from his land by an envious Lord Vishnu to see his subjects at the beginning of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam calendar. King Mahabali is traditionally welcomed with a carpet of flowers, the Pookalam. The ten days festival in Kerala began on August 22 and will conclude on September 2. The main celebration is on August 31, the Thiru Onam.
Corporate Comm India(CCI Newswire)
