BDK Kuwait and KEA Kuwait joins hands to celebrate Onam – the national festival of Kerala

Kuwait City: KEA and BDK, Kuwait celebrated this year’s Onam the national festival of Kerala by donating blood. The event named, “SUKRUTHAM 2020”, was conducted on 25 September 2020 Friday from 9 am to 1 pm at Adan Cooperative Blood Transfusion Centre in cooperation with Central Blood Bank of Kuwait.

Under the present covid scenario, Onam celebration couldn’t be held and Kannur Expats Association (KEA) came up with an idea of organizing a blood donation camp as part of its social responsibility. Mr. Kevin Chandy, a BDK member dressed up as Mahabali, was the first to donate blood. Many Kerala men and women wearing their traditional attire added colour to the occasion. Blood donors were given certificates and ‘variety of Payasam’ to sweeten up their Onam memories.

Onam celebrations across the Malayali community worldwide became a low-key affair this time, as the celebrations lost its sheen in the wake of covid 19 pandemic restrictions, considering the high risk of virus transmission posed by large gatherings. Still the community finds a different way to celebrate it. Deviating from the traditional way of public processions and cultural activities, a blood donation camp was organized and people from different walks of life participated with unprecedented enthusiasm and indulgence to donate the drops of life to show their compassion and commitment to the society, adding depth and meaning to the festival.

Addition of some of the festival elements contributed to uphold a festive mood and ambience throughout the camp. For instance Pookkalam, one of the key elements of Onam was also included, this time it was an innovative origami floral arrangement. Varieties of payasams were also distributed at the end of the camp. Everything was executed strictly following the Covid protocols established by the ministry of health.

The camp was formally inaugurated by Dr. Amir Ahmmad, the president of Indian doctor’s forum, in a function chaired by Mrs. Sherine Mathew, president, KEA. Mr. Reghubal (BDK President) welcomed the gathering; while Rajan Thottathil conveyed the onam message. Dr Amir Ahmmad was honoured with a memento by Ajith Kumar, KEA general secretary and Anoop Kumar extended gratitude to the attendees.

Biji Murali, Deepu Chandran, Jayakrishnan, Hareendran, Subin narayanan, Roopesh, Praveen Kumar, Soumini, Jayakumari, Sethuna, Yamuna, Sofi, Rosmin, Dhanya, Muneer, Soyous, Jithin, Mujeeb & Vinoth have offered their services to the execution a successful camp.

The significance of the program “Sukrutham 2020’’ is that it established a guideline to the society, how to subsist with the pandemic and the associated restrictions.

To help the authorities to manage the shortage of blood and derivatives in the transfusion centres. Further, these camps convey a message to the society that blood donation is completely a safe activity, even at the time of Covid 19 pandemic as well. KEA deserve public acknowledgement for shouldering such a challenging initiative at the current time of difficulties and turbulences we are wading through.