Onam celebrated in British Parliament

LONDON: Several British lawmakers and members of the Kerala business community have celebrated Onam, the most popular festival of Keralites, in the British Parliament.

A beautiful Pookalam (flower rangoli) was organised in the Jubilee Room of the Parliament yesterday where variety of dishes, prepared by a well known South Indian restaurant, were served on a banana leaf.

As part of the celebrations, Indian-origin Labour MP Virendra Sharma and Loughton Mayor Carol Davies, presented awards to leading Malayalee businesses.

The award recipients included Joyalukkus, well known Indian Jewellers, Swayam Properties, a reputed estate agency managed by husband and wife duo Anil Kumar and Sheeba, Mrs Gemini Kunnenkeril, who single handedly manages Highway Services, two petrol stations and an MOT centre and Padma Kumar, who heads a company providing high specification catering equipment to airlines and railway companies.

Also present at the event was the Managing Director of Lulu Group Yusuff Ali.

The event was organised by Councillor Philip Abraham, deputy Mayor of Loughton with support from Kerala Business Forum leaders.

The harvest festival of Onam is the biggest festival celebrated in Kerala and marks the commemoration of home-coming of the King Mahabali.