Low-key celebrations for Indians’ traditional New Years
Indian expats across the UAE — who hailed from various states — are celebrating their traditional New Years, albeit, on a low key. Malayalees, Tamilians, Odias and Assamese are set to ring in Puthandu, Vishu, Pana Sankranti and Bohag Bihu today, while Telugus, Kannadigas, Maharashtrians, Sikhs and Kashmiris celebrated Ugadi, Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi and Navreh on Tuesday. Bengalis greet their friends and family on ‘Poila Baisakh’ (April 15).
The traditional New Years are coinciding with the second and third days of the holy month of Ramadan in the UAE, making it an auspicious time. Retail outlets, flower vendors and restaurants have reported a flood of enquiries for food and religious paraphernalia, Khaleej Times has learnt.
Since a large population of Malayalis live in the UAE, scores of families are marking Vishu in a low-key style. “Last year, there were absolutely no celebrations whatsoever since Vishu fell during peak lockdown time. Families, such as mine, restrained from preparing sadhya (feast eaten on a banana leaf during special occasions) at home. We ordered ours from a restaurant. This year, we decided to indulge in some form of celebrations,” said Shruti Kannan, a Sharjah resident. However, Kannan said all festivities would strictly be limited to close family members only.
Restaurant owners are viewing this time as an opportunity to turn their businesses around after the Covid-19-induced slump last year. Vijayan Nellippunathil, executive director at Calicut Notebook Restaurant, said his restaurant reached 80 per cent of their maximum capacity for sadhya pre-orders, both dine-in and delivery, by Tuesday.
Surender Singh Kandhari, chairman of Al Dobowi Group and head of Guru Nanak Darbar in Dubai, shared that for the Sikhs’ Baisakhi, they held a 30-minute keertan in the morning and evening for 30 minutes.
Madhulika Chatterjee, a Bengali expatriate, said he planned to celebrate Poila Boisakh over the weekend. “Celebrations will strictly be between family members and close friends. We’ll have a meal and wear new clothes.”