Malayalee associations in Pune celebrate Onam by donating essential items
Onam is a harvest festival which is celebrated by the Malayalees not just in Kerala but also by people across the globe.
In Pune, there are two main organisations, Pimpri Chinchwad Malayalee Samajam and Poona Keraleeya Samaj who hold several activities during this period. But this year due to the Covid19 pandemic, the celebrations were not held, but the organisations generously donated essential items to the needy.
Joint secretary of Chinchwad Malayalee Samajam, Jyothidinaraj Parmela said, “This year Onam Festival was not celebrated in a grand way because of the pandemic. My and my donated kits to the old people of our community, financially helped people who lost their jobs or death of an earning person from the family. ”
Jyothidinraj further said even before such natural calamities have occurred we have all helped people. In the year 2019 Malayalee samajam donated food and money to the people when Pune was hit badly due to the floods. In 2018, when Kerala saw the worst floods, we had helped by offering financial aid to the Kerala government.”
Poona Keraleeya Samaj Established in 1944
Poona Keraleeya Samaj also did not celebrate the festival this year. But engaged themselves in serving people on need. The organisation established In 1944. It is known for the participation of youths in it. This year the organisation completed 75 years of its establishment.
Madhu Nair, president, Poona keraleeya samaj informed, “Following the guidelines issued by the government we have cancelled our programs. We, in individual as well as through our organization shall continue our help to the needy in such crisis time.”
