Anand Mahindra celebrates Malayali spirit, hails youth for celebrating Onam in Antarctica

From being the first Indian space tourist to First Deputy Managing Director at the International Monetary Fund, Malayalis are everywhere. Kerala and its people manage to leave their impact wherever they go. Indian business tycoon, Anand Mahindra, recently shared a tweet that celebrated the spirit of the rich Malayali culture.

The short clip shared by the business tycoon shows a bunch of Malayalis celebrating Onam in Antarctica. The motley group of young people is seen preparing the traditional ‘Pookalam’ a floral rangoli on ice. Five people dressed in winter clothing suited for the chilly weather of Antarctica are seen creating an elaborate Pookalam on ice.

The group is seen using hammers to engrave an intricate Pookalam design on the ice surface. The Pookalam depicts the archetypal boat used in Kerala's famous Vallam Kali (boat race) and palm leaves encircled by floral patterns. Both the boat and the coconut trees are symbolic of the diverse culture of Kerala.


Mahindra praised the group for their effort and hailed the spirit of Indians to take along their culture where they go. “You cannot prevent Indians from celebrating Onam. Even in Antarctica. Outstanding,” wrote Anand Mahindra. Mahindra’s tweet garnered over 23K likes, around 2000 retweets and thousands of comments.
Mahindra’s tweet also triggered some interesting comments. “The day we celebrate Onam on Moon isn't far away, true to the Mallu spirit,” said a user. “Our indian culture is the best. Each part of it has a special celebration,” said another user.

This year, Malayalis around the world celebrated Onam on September 8. The festival is marked by numerous traditional events that are nothing short of a visual spectacle. The 10 days of Onam transform streets in Kerala to reflect the beauty and grandeur of the state in its true essence.

Malayalis from all over the world mark the day by feasting on the traditional meal ‘Onam Sadhya’. The meal served on Onam can feature as many as 26 different dishes that are usually served on a plantain leaf.