Festival of Onam event
MORE than 100 Indian families gathered in Tullyallen Parish Hall recently to celebrate the Festival of Onam.
The event, which was organised by the Drogheda Indian Association, was a huge success local Senator Ged Nash was the guest of honour on the day.
‘We had a really nice day, it was outstanding and everyone really enjoyed themselves,’ said a spokesperson for the group.
‘We have a very strong Indian community in County Louth with nearly 120 families. It was a brilliant day, it really was. It was amazing, we had 100 families there on the day, all from County Louth or County Meath as a few families live in the Grange Rath estate which is in Meath.
Onam is an annual Hindu festival with origins in the state of Kerala in India. The local festival was organised by the Drogheda Indian Association President Biju Varghese.
The festival symbol is for prosperity and unity.
‘On the day of the festival we had games and a festival programme and a cultural programme for both children and adults,’ said the spokesperson.
He said the Onam festival is an annual event and the Drogheda Indian Association were delighted to welcome Senator Ged Nash along to help them mark the occasion.
He said Onam is one of two major functions the Association holds in Drogheda explaining the other one is for Christmas.
‘Everyone enjoyed the day, it was outstanding,’ he said. ‘It was our first time having someone there from the political world to preside over it and he was very obliging and really involved in the day.’
Speaking following the event Senator Nash said he was privileged to have been the guest of honour at the ancient festival of Onam.
‘ Thank you to Biju, Binoy, Emi and all of the organisers, performers and families who made this magical event possible,’ he said.