Malayali migrants celebrate culture
THERE might be an Indian restaurant on every other corner in Toowoomba but what many residents don’t realise is that not all Indian food is the same.
Toowoomba Malayali Association secretary Amith Chandran said every state in India has it’s own culture, costume and cuisine and said the local Malayali community had no restaurants of its own.
Malayali people come from the Indian coastal region of Kerala.
That means when the association puts on a feast, the many Malayali families from across the district flock to enjoy a full spread of their home cuisine.
Recently some 400 people from 130 families gathered at the St Ursula’s Salo Centre for the Onam Festival, a Malayalam harvest festival that marks the end of the monsoon and the beginning of the harvest season.
There were classical and cultural performances, Bollywood dancing and a huge feast featuring some 25 different curries native to the Kerala region.
Mr Chandran said the feast was a definite highlight, because while most could cook a curry or two, it would be impossible for the average family to cook such a wide range of dishes.
A major aim of the Toowoomba Malayali Association was to help members transition into their new Australian homes while giving them an outlet for the positive sides of both Australian and Malayalam culture.
“Our aim is to keep our culture but also blending our culture with Australian culture,” he said.
“We need to treat this country like home and respect this country.”
The group raised $500 from the event to donate to Toowoomba Regional Council to be used as council saw fit, whether it was drought relief or another important cause.
He said visitors were always welcome at Toowoomba Malayali Association gatherings and people could stay updated on upcoming events by searching for the group on Facebook.