Onam, the festival of flowers and colors being celebrated for centuries in Kerala, one of the states in the southern part of India, brings nostalgic feelings to all expatriate Keralites. Onam comes in the last of week of August or first week of September every year.
Being an Indian descended from Kerala, I was also passing through with a nostalgic past memoires during the first week of September, far away from the motherland. Hundred thousands of literature and online content will be available about Onam and its mythical and historical reasons and hence there is no point to narrate those stories here once again.
Being the common festival without having any particular religious blemishes, Onam festival days present great opportunity to recall the golden past years of Kerala and its people under the rule of a mighty king Mahabali.
This year we had the rare opportunity to attend the Onam celebrations organized by Nihon Kairali, the Japan Kerala community at Yokohama on 5th and 6th September. It was two exciting days for us with family to enjoy at the Nishi center in Yokohama, 10 minutes walk from the Yokohama station.
This time the festival was named as Kerala festival 2009. This year’s Kerala festival was organized by Nihon Kairali in co-ordination with GRIP Kerala and Kerala Travels Interserve Ltd. Due to my own physical limitations, I could not actively involve in any of the organizing activities of Nihon Kairali during the rehearsal time. During one of the rehearsal days I could meet one of the prominent figures among the Indian expatriates in Japan, Mr. Suresh lal.
Suresh lal, an Indian by birth is a permanent resident of Japan is also president of Nihon Kairali. He is an influential personality possessing great organizing skills. The number of families from Kerala living in Japan is approximately 500. It is a tough job to unite all the families to meet and exchange cultural activities that also to dimension of a big festival like the one we witnessed on 5th and 6th September.
On 5th September, we were lucky to see the Mizhavu melam presented by Abhinaya Labo, which is a group of researchers and performers based in Tokyo. They organize events and performances of the traditional arts of South India. A group of dedicated Japanese artists who have immense knowledge and interest in Indian performing arts undertake vast research and training in classical Sanskrit theatre, Kutiyattam and Nangiar Koothu, a female solo dance of Kerala.
Mizhavu melam performed by Abhinaya Labo virtually took every one of the audience to a level of ecstasy. The stunning performance of Mizhavu and Edaykka, the two traditional instruments used in the classical performances in Kerala, forced the audience to stand up at the end and respect the performers. Mizhavu is a kind of drum, which is used in the Kutiyattam dance. A large pot with the mouth tightly covered with leather, when beaten with hands sounds in the air with its harmonic overtones. Edaykka is an instrument used in Hindu temples in Kerala while performer sings the devotional songs. It can be compared with the Tsuzumi drum in Japan with the difference that the Edaykka is played with drum stick.
Two days went fast with a feast of cultural events and classical dance performers from Regatta, a professional dance troupe from Kerala. Really exciting two days far away from the land of flora and fauna, but with all the vigor and thrill of Kerala’s own festival Onam! Thanks to the Nihon Kairali, especially to Suresh lal.
Being an Indian descended from Kerala, I was also passing through with a nostalgic past memoires during the first week of September, far away from the motherland. Hundred thousands of literature and online content will be available about Onam and its mythical and historical reasons and hence there is no point to narrate those stories here once again.
Being the common festival without having any particular religious blemishes, Onam festival days present great opportunity to recall the golden past years of Kerala and its people under the rule of a mighty king Mahabali.
This year we had the rare opportunity to attend the Onam celebrations organized by Nihon Kairali, the Japan Kerala community at Yokohama on 5th and 6th September. It was two exciting days for us with family to enjoy at the Nishi center in Yokohama, 10 minutes walk from the Yokohama station.
This time the festival was named as Kerala festival 2009. This year’s Kerala festival was organized by Nihon Kairali in co-ordination with GRIP Kerala and Kerala Travels Interserve Ltd. Due to my own physical limitations, I could not actively involve in any of the organizing activities of Nihon Kairali during the rehearsal time. During one of the rehearsal days I could meet one of the prominent figures among the Indian expatriates in Japan, Mr. Suresh lal.
Suresh lal, an Indian by birth is a permanent resident of Japan is also president of Nihon Kairali. He is an influential personality possessing great organizing skills. The number of families from Kerala living in Japan is approximately 500. It is a tough job to unite all the families to meet and exchange cultural activities that also to dimension of a big festival like the one we witnessed on 5th and 6th September.
On 5th September, we were lucky to see the Mizhavu melam presented by Abhinaya Labo, which is a group of researchers and performers based in Tokyo. They organize events and performances of the traditional arts of South India. A group of dedicated Japanese artists who have immense knowledge and interest in Indian performing arts undertake vast research and training in classical Sanskrit theatre, Kutiyattam and Nangiar Koothu, a female solo dance of Kerala.
Mizhavu melam performed by Abhinaya Labo virtually took every one of the audience to a level of ecstasy. The stunning performance of Mizhavu and Edaykka, the two traditional instruments used in the classical performances in Kerala, forced the audience to stand up at the end and respect the performers. Mizhavu is a kind of drum, which is used in the Kutiyattam dance. A large pot with the mouth tightly covered with leather, when beaten with hands sounds in the air with its harmonic overtones. Edaykka is an instrument used in Hindu temples in Kerala while performer sings the devotional songs. It can be compared with the Tsuzumi drum in Japan with the difference that the Edaykka is played with drum stick.
Two days went fast with a feast of cultural events and classical dance performers from Regatta, a professional dance troupe from Kerala. Really exciting two days far away from the land of flora and fauna, but with all the vigor and thrill of Kerala’s own festival Onam! Thanks to the Nihon Kairali, especially to Suresh lal.
Interesting festival
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