Kerala Day Celebration in Dubai

2 November 2013
Dubai

The ‘Akcaf Mega Thiruvathira’ was performed at the Etisalat Academy stadium in Al Ghusais on Friday evening. The event was part of the culmination of the two-month long Onam celebrations of All Kerala Colleges Alumni Forum or Akcaf, timed on Kerala’s 57th state-formation anniversary on November 1.

Rajesh Pillai, president of the forum in the UAE this year, said the present executive committee decided to organise a large-scale performance of Thiruvathirakkali as a tribute to the women of Kerala. “It is a major achievement for Akcaf in its 15 years’ history in the UAE. What started off with the participation of an estimated 250 women finally reached about 450.”

Teachers from four branches of Dubai-based Sopanam Dance and Music Training Centre were assigned to teach the dance to interested participants who poured in as groups from college alumni associations under Akcaf and other community organisations.

As word spread through the social media, more and more women joined, prompting Akcaf to arrange a 200-strong volunteering team to organise the programme, according to Biju Kassim, convenor of the organising committee.

Clad in the traditional costume of Malayali women, a two-piece off white sari called mundum neryathum with golden colour border and red blouse, the dancers took part in the nearly 10-minute-long performance with passion and pride. Jasmine flowers adorned their hair adding to the uniform look of the women moving in circles around a lit traditional lamp in a rhythmical fashion.

Nisha Rajesh, an amateur dancer, said it was a lifetime achievement for her to be part of the record performance. “It was a chance to show our patriotism in a very unique way that only we women can do.”

M.A. Yousaffali, Managing Director of EMKE Group and Afra Al Basti, executive director of Dubai Foundation for Women and Children were the chief guests at the valedictory function held after a traditional procession comprising various art forms of Kerala and the mega dance performance which were witnessed by over 10,000 people, according to Akcaf. P. Mohan, vice-consul (Labour) at the Indian Consulate in Dubai and Indian Community Welfare Committee Convenor K. Kumar also attended the function.

Source– http://www.khaleejtimes.com

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