CELEBRATIONS

OF LIFE
DELIVERING
WELLNESS
UNITED COLOURS
OF KERALA
TOURISM &
TRAVEL TIPS
SPECIAL REPORT | SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
1
Onam
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Onam, an important festival of Kerala, coincides with the harvest of rice,
the main crop in the state. It symbolises social harmony, where Keralites
enthusiastically participate irrespective of their religious backgrounds.
The spirit of unity and brotherhood prevails in the several celebrations
arranged by the government as well as social organisations in Kerala.
This is a season of generosity of giving and sharing where family
bonds are strengthened and the occasion is celebrated in all its grandeur
and glory. New clothes and traditional feasts spread out on plantain
leaves set the festivities apart. Just the thought of the variety, the
sumptuousness and the exquisite taste of food can make your mouth
water. The culture of Kerala is showcased during Onam. The 10-day long
festival begins with Atham in the Malayalam month of Chingam and
culminates on the day of Thiruvonam. Each of the 10 days has a special
signifcance and a ritual to follow.
Households in Kerala are busy during this time. As for the
delicacies, one can go on and on. Payasam (the traditional Kerala
dessert), the show-stopper of the onasadya is itself of plentiful variety.
It is interesting to watch kids make every celebration their own.
Children go early in the morning scouting the neighbourhood in search
of fowers to make foral carpets (pookkalam) that adorn the courtyards
of their homes. Traditional arts and games bring alive the rustic
ambience of the community. The swing is a unique feature of this
festivity. There are several Onam-special programmes conducted
across Kerala including the Kerala Tourism-sponsored programmes.
The story of the benevolent King Mahabali is remembered, a time when
he ruled the state and ensured prosperity and equality for all. It is
believed that the mythical king visits his subjects during Onam to
enquire about the well-being of his people.
Malayalee residents in the UAE too participate in gala cultural events
and reconnect with their roots. In this special issue on Onam we have
featured people from Kerala who silently strive to make a diference to
the community. The cultural, social and economic aspects of the festival,
and of the state, are also covered in this edition. Additionally, Malayalees
have a spectacular line-up of lavishly produced flm extravaganzas
specifcally for the festival. We have tried and tested mouth-watering
recipes that you can cook at home. Several retail outlets in the UAE have
a wide variety of promotions and ofers, and hotels even have special
Onam luncheons for those who are unable to cook at home. So go on,
read and enjoy.
Happy Onam to one and all, and do take time of to partake in the
celebrations with family and friends.
SPECIAL REPORT | SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
Suchitra Steven Samuel
Supplements Editor
suchitra@khaleejtimes.com
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KHALEEJ TIMES
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SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
2
Onam
MESSAGE
OOMMEN CHANDY
Chief Minister, Kerala
I am glad to know that Khaleej Times
will be bringing out a special Onam
supplement in September 2014.
The initiative by Khaleej Times to
highlight Keralas national festival is
indeed appreciable. I hope that the
special supplement on Onam will help
to enliven the spirit of the festival
among Malayalee expatriates in the
UAE, which is marked by brotherhood,
togetherness and plenitude.
Wishing all a Happy and
Prosperous Onam 2014.
Oommen Chandy
Ofice: Secretariat, Thiruvananthapuram - 695 001
Phone: Ofice: 2333610, 2333812, 2333197, 2332148, 2333214, 2332682, 2332184
Fax: (0471) 2333489 Res: (0471) 2345600, 2342602 & (0481) 2351135
C O N T E N T S
KHALEEJ TIMES | SPECIAL REPORT | SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
FOOD LOVER'S PARADISE
KERALA'S
DISTINCT CUISINE
USING LOCALLY AVAILABLE INGREDIENTS
STARDOM CELEBRATIONS
FAHAD AND NAZRIYA
EN ROUTE TO
WEDDED BLISS
KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE
A FEELING OF BEING AT
HOME FOR ONAM
THE EXPATRIATE LIFE
M
alayalees living in
di
erent parts of
the w
orld recall
fond O
nam

m
em
ories
page 8
A TIME TO CELEBRATE,
CARE AND SHARE
FLAME OF FESTIVE
SEASON BURNS
BRIGHT
TREASURED TRADITIONS IN
MODERN LIVES
MAGICAL RENDITIONS
WITNESS THE GRACE
OF DIFFERENT ART FORMS
STAR SPECTACLE
LAVISHLY MOUNTED FILM
EXTRAVAGANZAS
DELECTABLE DISHES
FAVOURITE ONAM
RECIPES
FESTIVITIES
OF LIFE
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
4
Onam
A
TIME TO
CELEBRATE,
CARE AND SHARE
THE UAE is a good place to be in; not just for the sun and
sand; not even so much for the employment opportunities
it generates, but for the very important humane philosophy
it promotes as a 'nation that cares'. Leading by example, it
instils a spirit of generosity, a keenness to alleviate sufering
and to be a good member of this progressive society.
It is this spirit that is refected even during Onam
celebrations in the UAE with expatriates who have
chosen to live here for decades, enjoying the good life
and celebrating Onam with fanfare and fervour, but
remembering to encompass others who seek help with
silent dignity. The various Kerala Cultural Associations
chip in with strength in numbers and their collective
determination to care for the community.
THE FLAME OF A FESTIVE
SEASON BURNS BRIGHTER
THAN EVER, AS TREASURED
TRADITIONS GIVE MODERN
LIVES SOMETHING TO
HOLD ON TO
Manjula Ramakrishnan
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
5
Onam
Vinitha Pratish
B
orn and raised here,
Dubai has been home
to Vinitha for the past
32 years. As an IT
Operations Engineer
working for Emirates airlines, a
computer engineer by profession,
a classical dancer and a choreogra-
pher rolled into one, Vinitha dons
several hats and performs each of
these diverse roles with lan.
Despite a busy roller-coaster
ride trying to balance her pro-
fessional, family and social life,
when Onam is round the corner,
priorities are blithely re-arranged.
For here is a festival that is not just
about celebration or feasting, but
about keeping traditions thriving,
about fnding time for friends and
families to meet, for community
activities and for bringing to this
faraway land an interesting smor-
gasbord of verdant and culturally-
rich Kerala.
The very mention of Onam
conjures up such happy memories
with so much to say that I dont
know where to start! If our grand-
parents made Onam in Kerala
special with their pampering and
lending their very exclusive touch,
J
P, as he is popularly known, is a veteran
of Dubai, having lived here for 24 years
and counting. Armed with an accounts
and inventory background and associ-
ated with a leading group of supermarkets in
the UAE, JP has seen the nation grow. Along-
side the unstoppable upward spiral of this
friendly country, he has also seen Malayalees
in the UAE fourish, thanks to the benevolence
of the rulers. Thus with each year, Onam cele-
brations have become more vibrant and more
fervent, he observes.
Onam for every Malayalee represents to-
getherness and bonding. Much as I relish the
well-over two decades of Onam in the UAE,
I also remember with fondness the celebra-
tions back home in Kerala during my growing
up years. All the neighbourhood kids would as-
semble to go on a dedicated mission of collect-
ing fowers for the pookalam. Thumba, the small
white fower was the main pick and the child
armed with the maximum fowers was an ac-
claimed star! On Uthradam day, we would make
the traditional statue of Thrikkakarayappan with
mud and display that in front of the house.
Onam also promotes equality and altruism,
which translates into distribution of vegetables,
fruits and necessary groceries to the underprivi-
leged. The touch and feel of new clothes, the
Onakodi, is also important; hence gifting new
clothes to those for whom it is wishful thinking is
yet another humane aspect of the festival.
Here in the UAE, JP is a member of several as-
sociations that are culturally dynamic, but equal-
ly so in their humanitarian activities. Sevanam,
Friends of India, Vidya International Charitable
Trust, and Chinmaya Mission are some of the
outfts that promote a variety of causes.
On the cultural side, the Kerala cultural
associations organise pookalam competitions,
Maveli and the much-awaited Onam feast.
Some of these celebrations last for well over
a month and serve in educating the younger
generation about the signifcance of our
traditions and culture. On the humanitarian
side, Sevanam in the UAE helps render medical
and legal help, taking care of insurance
needs, repatriating dead bodies, helping the
uninitiated with the Consulate work and
similar. Through Chinmaya Mission, we teach
traditional values and ethics. At Vidya, we focus
on higher education and providing scholarships
to the economically backward sector, guided by
the philosophy progress through education.
The sum and substance of Onam therefore
is oneness in our celebrations, keeping alive
our traditional values, and above all ensuring
that the occasion is a reason to reach out to
those in need.
Thazhathuveetil Raman
Jayaprakasan
it is friends and extended fam-
ily here in Dubai who ensure the
favour and spirit is kept vibrantly
alive. While it is commonly said
that the Onasadya is a Herculean
task, I have always enjoyed mak-
ing the feast, basking in the adula-
tion that greets me the next morn-
ing as the innumerable delicacies
get devoured!
Floral decorations outside
her home, the Onakodi that is
shopped for with unbridled en-
thusiasm, and the gifts given and
accepted, all lend the festivities
that extra fllip.
As a child, I used to partici-
pate in the United Malayalee As-
sociation's Onam programmes,
particularly in the cultural shows
that would depict the true fa-
vour of Onam. Today as a trained
dancer, we give dance recitals
like thiruvathirakkali, which is the
traditional Onam dance, parades
and pageants, foral arrangements
and help with the associations
Onasadya. It is through these as-
sociations that we donate clothes
for the needy, particularly school
uniforms for economically back-
ward children.
Ensuring an important festival
like Onam is celebrated by all ap-
pears to be a common theme for
Onam. Hence, the festival often
witnesses distribution of grocer-
ies needed to prepare a modest
feast, thereby enveloping those
who lack the resources to make
the day special.
When days and weeks merge
in a blur with life in constant fast
track mode, festivals such as
Onam make us stop in our tracks,
take a deep breath, enjoy the occa-
sion with gay abandon, re-charge
our batteries and return back to
the grind with more energy and
enthusiasm.
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
6
A
banker and fnancial consultant, Mohan
Kumar has enjoyed 22 years of rendezvous
with the UAE and considers Dubai as his
home away from home.
I am from a beautiful, picturesque village called
Thiruvilwamala in Trichur district on the banks of
the famous river Bharathapuzha; my wife Mini is
from Kathikudom, another village in the same dis-
trict near the Chalakkudy river. Hailing from these
tiny albeit alluring hamlets of Kerala, we have en-
joyed the authentic Onam celebrated in these pas-
toral places.
Onam is a celebration that is enjoyed after the
harvest season in Kerala. It represents abundance
and is the harbinger of good times to come. The
festival falls during spring season; hence the pres-
ence of beautiful, hue-rich fowers all around lends
its own charm. The signifcance of the fowerbeds
or pookalam that children enthusiastically make at
the entrance of each home is meant to create mental
harmony and inner peace. Besides an activity, cre-
ating the foral arrangement brings together entire
family members, perched around the baskets of
fowers and bound by the spirit of Onam.
The Onasadya is the pride of every woman in the
household and presents an occasion to prepare tra-
ditional items that is seldom made in an otherwise
busy life. The payasams in particular are a gourmet
delight and a must with every Onam feast.
Elders gift children and other younger members
of the family with new clothes. Wearing the Onakodi
is considered auspicious, hence back home in Kera-
la, dependents, workers and maids are all gifted new
clothes as part of the Onam ritual. The festival in the
cities and towns of Kerala goes on for about 10 days,
and feeding the poor is considered the moral duty of
those endowed with resources. No one in the village
is supposed to go hungry, irrespective of caste or
creed. This selfess philosophy of Onam lends great
dignity to the festival.
Here in the UAE, almost every family is a mem-
ber of various cultural associations; hence children
get an opportunity to showcase their talents in mu-
sic, dance and drama. Women perform the famous
Onam dance called kaikottikkali and the atmosphere
is replete with the unifed spirit of Onam.
Giving generously is also an Onam sentiment.
As a practice, we donate to orphanages in India
and make sure a decent Onam meal is provided
to the less fortunate children there. Amidst the
enjoyable Onam fanfare, it is important to spare a
thought for those who will gratefully accept a help-
ing hand. That would be truly carrying the Onam
tradition forward.
A
doctor of medicine who has chosen the intriguing
world of life and health insurance, Dr Geeta has en-
veloped the UAE as her home for the past 22 years.
The fondest memory of Onam is the overwhelming joy
derived out of being in the midst of loved ones, people who
love us unconditionally. As a medical professional with little
time for myself, the festival has given me a good reason to
dress up in my best Onam fnery! Another passion of mine
that fnds an outlet during the festival is trying out diferent
foral designs, experimenting and sitting back to enjoy the f-
nal creation. I once tried using coloured coconut gratings on
the pookalam, which produced a surprisingly brilliant efect.
Another interesting activity of Onam day is when children
decide to entertain elders at home with song and dance rou-
tines. The sumptuous feast that follows is a sure enough treat,
with special Onam desserts satiating the sweet tooth.
As an Onam practice, rice and other food grains, vegeta-
bles and clothes are donated to the needy. This altruism is
something that should not be limited to Onam, but one that
should become a life philosophy, says Dr Geeta. The blood
donation camps she participates in are a case in point, blood is meant to circulate.
The best feature of Onam is that it knows no religion. It is meant for anybody from Kerala.
The day, the occasion, is just another good endearing excuse to celebrate life, bound together as
people who speak the same language Malayalam and who come from the same coastal state.
With the popularity of Onam growing, Indians from other states, and even foreigners, participate
joyously with their Malayalee friends, thus spreading the message of friendship sans borders,
she observes.
Dr Geeta
Gangadharan
D
r Sayed, a Paediatrician and Group Medi-
cal Director of Aster DM Healthcare,
Dubai, is a household name in the UAE.
His laudable career saw him pass out from the
University of Kashmir and his paediatric special-
isation from Mysore University, and the last 26
years of his professional life here in the UAE.
Looking back at his long stint in Dubai, Dr
Sayed nostalgically reminisces about his very
frst Onam celebration here. It was organised by
advocate Sarachandra Bose and his team. I had
the opportunity to be a team member and could
actively participate in organising the event. This
proved to be a huge success and thus paved the
way for future Onam celebrations, a legacy that
continues even today without a break. Having
spent a major part of my life in this country,
Onam has always been a period earmarked for
families and friends. The various Kerala commu-
nity organisations too come forth with a colour-
ful agenda of celebrations and I enjoy being a
part of these too year-on-year.
As a child growing up in his Kalpakanchery
village, the good doctors Onam day would dawn
with a joyous task of plucking fowers from the
lush greenery all around. The fower carpet that
would emerge at the entrance of each home
was a frst morning treat. Running amok with
siblings and cousins, without a care in the world
and replete with songs and laughter, the whole
village would don the festive look and look at
the antics of the children indulgently. When ex-
hausted, welcome relief was in the form of the
Onam feast, followed by dances, songs, dramas,
literary festivals, folk arts, traditional games and
martial arts.
In the Gulf, celebrations get extended and
sometimes stretch to well over two months, in
order to utilise the available weekends for cel-
ebrations as well as the availability of venues
for the huge gathering to converge. Community
associations, college alumnis, companies and
labour camps line up Onam feasts, games, stage
shows and the extended Onam period gives
everybody a reason to place in the back burner
their daily problems and to look ahead with posi-
tive energy.
Dr Sayed is a member of the Kairali Associa-
tion and participates in the activities of several
other Malayalee cultural associations too. While
the associations do commendable social work
and give as much as they possibly can to the com-
munity, Dr Sayed in his professional capacity,
and through the Corporate Social Responsibility
(CSR) programmes of Aster DM Healthcare, has
conducted various free medical camps in Dubai
and other emirates.
While Onam ofers a lot by way of abundant
happiness, a sense of belonging to the family
and the community, it is also a time when we
sit back to count our blessings and to reach out
to those who wait for happiness to breeze into
their lives through a window they never knew
they had open.
Dr P M M Sayed
Thozhoor Kamala
Mohan Kumar
WASL
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
8
Onam
K S Nayar
S
quatting on the foor
and eating a sumptuous
Onasadya (feast) spread
on plantain leaf with
bare hands is the way
Malayalee techies living across
the world love to celebrate Keralas
ancient harvest festival. For most
of them though they generally
frown on myths and legends
the smell of curries and payasams
(puddings) are so irresistible that
nostalgia compels them to take
a day of from work to partake in
the traditionally prepared meals
and adorn the pookalam (foral
arrangement).
The pull of Onam traditions and
fond memories that Malayalee
techies nurture of their childhood
walking across dew-flled felds to
pluck fowers to make colourful fo-
ral arrangements overwhelm them
wherever they live. These images
of happiness come back to them on
Onam days a tradition ingrained
in their DNAs.
From Bangalore to Florida,
the techie is not happy merely ex-
changing photos and greetings on
social networking sites, which oth-
erwise hog their waking hours.
Florida-based Asok Menon,
working as a cost accountant for
the past 24 years, has never given
Onam a miss. He enjoys the feast
with his wife Renu Paliath and chil-
dren Anirudh and Anjali. The last
time the Chottanikkara (Ernaku-
lam District)-born Asok celebrated
the festival in Kerala was in Sep-
tember, 1990. Its still etched in
his memory.
In Florida, with its tropical
clime and similarities with Kerala
weather, Asok and his family have
enjoyed every moment of the
Onam spirit amid the hustle and
bustle of American life. We buy
vegetables from local Indian gro-
cery stores, he says and speaks of
the nostalgia of plucking fowers
as a boy for the pookalam.
He believes the cyberspace and
its social networking sites provide
a fairly satisfactory platform for
the exchange of Onam greetings
with friends and families. He
thinks the Internet has brought
together the Onam spirit with Fa-
cebook and Twitter providing an
ambience, though a bit artifcial
and illusionary, to keep up the
Onam traditions.
For IT engineer Mohan PV, liv-
ing in Bangalore for the past 10

Malayalees living in diferent parts of the world recall fond Onam memories as they
celebrate the harvest festival with family and friends
years, celebrating Onam away
from Kerala has its limitations. But
with wife Bhavya and daughter
Nirupama, he makes it a point not
to miss the Onam spirit in case he
cannot make it to his hometown in
Kerala. His previous Onam was in
Ernakulam two years ago.
He confesses that he always felt
nostalgic of his younger days going
to the feld and collecting fowers
to make pookalam.
As a techie under work pres-
sure, he says social networking
sites do provide a fairly satis-
factory connection with family
and friends to exchange Onam
greetings. But he believes that
the Internet cannot provide the
true Onam spirit or its traditional
gaiety in spite of the photographs
and music one could upload.
For Mohan, the way out of
this artifcial Onam ambience
is to organise the feast at home.
If its a holiday, we try making
sadya at home. As Bangalore is
home to many Malayalees, there
is no dearth of vegetables and
condiments that are specifcally
needed for the sadya. That makes
it interesting.
For Lakshmi, who is working
with Tangoe, a leading US-based
global provider of Connection
Lifecycle Management software
and related services, Onam is an
occasion to show her true Malay-
alee spirit. I grew up in Cochin
and am currently located in Ban-
galore. I consider myself a full-
blooded Malayalee, and Onam
is special for me, she says with
Malayalee pride.
For every
Malayalee living
in any part of
the world, Onam
is still a special
event in their
life. It opens the
oodgates to
their childhood
memories
of happy
celebrations.
GULF GATE
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
10
Onam
She has been away from home
for more than 10 years, but con-
siders herself lucky that she could
celebrate Onam in Kerala last year.
Ive been fortunate to go back
home for every Onam and cele-
brate with my family, she says.
As a techie she confesses that
she works under great pressure
and believes that the Internet is a
great medium to exchange greet-
ings, not just for Onam, but also
on all festival occasions. I think
Onam is celebrated much more
these days than in the past when
I was in school. Its nice to see
greetings being shared and pic-
tures of Onam celebrations being
put up on Facebook.
Thanks to a clutch of good
hotels near her Bangalore apart-
ment, she buys onasadya with all
the traditional items on the menu.
For the last fve years we have
been buying sadya as there is usu-
ally more than 20-25 people who
gather for the feast on Onam day,
Lakshmi said.
Thiruvanthapuram-born Prit-
ish Madhavan, who works in Dal-
las as an Adviser on IT systems for
CVS Caremark, the largest inte-
grated pharmacy company in the
US, says Malayalee techies work-
ing abroad are absolutely nostal-
gic over their younger days back
in Kerala where they would go out
with friends in groups to pick fow-
ers to make pookalam.
This nostalgia comes when we
watch Malayalam programmes on
TV showing kids putting up pooka-
lam, he says. Having said that,
such pookalam activities even back
in Kerala is now limited and even for
my age group what I can remember
is that we used to do this for our res-
ident associations Onam festivals
and pookalam competitions.
Such activities are not hap-
pening in Malayalee homes in
Dallas, although the local Kerala
association organises pookalam
at their facilities.
Pritish, who is married and has
two sons, said that the last time
he celebrated Onam in Kerala was
nine years ago. However, while
working in the US, he has not for-
gone having traditional sadya.
We do organise Onam parties
every year, where we create a list of
items to prepare and then share it
with our friends who like to make
at least one item at their home. We
also invite friends as our guests
from other cultures and countries
to join these sadyas.
Although he is a techie, he as-
serts that he is not active on social
cyberspace. I would rather call up
friends and families from the US
and greet. I would say these days it
has become more of a fashion for
people to use Facebook, Twitter,
etc. to exchange Onam greetings.
Adarsh Raveendran, Project
Manager with Direct General, a
US insurance company based out
of Nashville, says he celebrated
Onam in Kerala with his wife, son
and daughter last year.
After being away from Kerala
for the past nine years, he is nos-
talgic about the Onam in his
younger days in his hometown,
enjoying collecting fowers for
the pookalam and every activity
related to Onam.
Although he feels the enormous
work pressure as a techie in Ameri-
ca, he makes it a point to celebrate
Onam at home with close friends.
We also have a celebration with
the local Malayalee association.
For them, preparations start two to
three months in advance, he says.
He thinks the Internet has brought
together the Onam spirit, and Face-
book and Twitter provide an ambi-
ence to keep up the Onam traditions.
For Sudeep D working in Banga-
lore for the past seven years, Onam
is a time to indulge in nostalgia.
The last time he celebrated Onam
was at his hometown two years
ago. It was incomparable with the
festivities within the restricted
space of his Bangalore apartment.
Thanks to the Malayalee shops
in the neighbourhood, getting the
vegetables and spices to make a
traditional sadya is no problem,
he informs.
Sudeep thinks no one can live
without the Internet, but Facebook
and Twitter are no substitute to the
joy, the colour and smell of Onam.
He indulges himself recalling the
good old days of his childhood in
his hometown, where as a young
lad he had gone around gathering
fowers for the pookalam.
For every Malayalee living in
any part of the world, Onam is a
still a special event in their life. It
opens the foodgates to their child-
hood memories of happy celebra-
tions. For most it continues to be
celebration of life itself.
K S Nayar has worked as a journal-
ist in Delhi, Singapore and Sharjah.
Presently, he is a media consultant
basedinCochin,India.
Nostalgia
comes when
Keralites watch
Malayalam
programmes
on TV showing
kids putting up
pookalam.
THE AKCAF MEGA THIRUVATHIRA WAS PERFORMED AT THE ETISALAT ACADEMY STADIUM IN AL GHUSAIS LAST YEAR. ABOUT 450 WOMEN
PERFORMED THE TRADITIONAL DANCE FORM OF KERALA, KNOWN TO BE THE BIGGEST SUCH PERFORMANCE OUTSIDE INDIA.
K
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CHENNAI
JEWELLERY
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
12
Onam
Classical dance lets Thrinitha Suraj stay
connected to her roots
Dancing her
way to fame
Sadiq Shaban
I
t wont be inappropriate to
call 15-year-old Thrinitha
Suraj a child prodigy. The
10
th
standard student from
Delhi Private School (DPS)
Dubai is an accomplished clas-
sical dancer who specialises in
Bharatnaytam, Kuchipudi, Moh-
iniyattam and folk dance.
I started dancing when I was
just three years old. My mother was
instrumental in introducing me to
this art form. I felt very involved
in it from the beginning. Although
I enjoy classical dance more, I per-
form other genres like Bollywood
and Western too. I like trying out
new forms of dance, Thrinitha
toldKhaleejTimes.
Dance has not only helped the
little wonder in terms of getting
better at what she does, but also
in her studies and extra-curricular
activities. As of now both dance
and studies are going parallel in
my life. Dance is not distracting me
from my priorities. I love dancing.
It is a medium where I can express
myself. There is drama, music,
emotion everything in it. There
is nothing you cant showcase in
dance, she avers.
Thankfully Thrinithas school
has supported her to the fullest.
Deepa Nair, Thrinithas mother,
says that teachers like Prabha
Nambiar, Activity Head, and
Rashmi Nandakeolyar, Prin-
cipal, DPS Dubai, have been
very encouraging. Other dance
teachers like Prasanna Kumar,
Pradeep Kashinada and her child-
hood tutor Lata have all groomed
Thrinitha to acquire the tender-
ness and sculpturesque elegance
that classical dance requires.
Deepa, herself a very competent
dancer, couldnt fulfl her dreams
of pursuing a career in dance. How-
ever, she wants her daughter to an-
swer her real calling. Thrinithas
father, Suraj Moosad, a corporate
trainer, is very supportive of her
too. She has become more focused
after she started concentrating on
classical dance. A disciplined child,
she choreographs her own dance,
sometimes along with her younger
sister Sreshta when she has to give
a performance for an association or
a youth festival.
A two-time fnalist for the popu-
lar Indian television reality show
Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa, Thrinitha has
also been a fnalist for the Star Plus
show Just Dance. Besides winning
several awards in Bharatnatyam
and Kuchipudi in the UAE, she has
bagged the best performing artist
prize for fve years.
Having performed with top Ma-
layalam artists like Kavya Madha-
van and Vineeth, Thrinitha wants
to achieve new heights in dance
and acting. Dance has helped
me evolve as a person. In classical
dance you portray all kinds of emo-
tions and learn several lessons. I
have become more humble and
grounded and I feel genuinely hap-
py about that, she chuckles.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
KT Photo by Dhes Handumon THRINITHA SURAJ
Dance has
helped me
evolve as a
person.
Onam
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
14
Onam
celebrations
Farhana Chowdhury
M
ollywood superstars Fahad Fazil and Nazriya Nazim
tied the knot on August 21, 2014 in an intimate cer-
emony in Thiruvananthapuram, bringing in a wave
of excitement and hearty congratulations from fans
and those in the reel world.
Sparks few when the couple met on the sets of BangaloreDays.
While their on-screen personas had diferent love interests, fond-
ness between the two blossomed of-screen. Their fated meeting
received further support from their families, who played a major
part in setting things in motion, including the dates for the arranged
marriage. The stunning couple got engaged earlier this year and ex-
changed their vows in late August.
Fahad Fazil, the son of well-known Malayalam flm director-pro-
ducer Fazil, is a name known to everyone in the state of Kerala, even
to those remotely interested in the world of Mollywood.
The actor, best known for his roles in a series of movies ranging
from Chaappa Kurishu and the very recent Bangalore Days, estab-
lished his career with interesting roles.
Holding a Masters degree in Philosophy from Miami University
in the US, Fahad chose not to ride on the wave of his famous father
and started of at the bottom of the rung. Armed with grit, he has
Fahad Fazil and Nazriya Nazim en route to wedded bliss
worked his way up in the flm industry to gain acknowledgement
for his acting skills.
Hed picked up numerous awards over the years, with the most
recent being the Kerala State Film Awards and Filmfare Awards
South for his role in Artistand North24Kaatham. His previous ac-
colades include wins from the South Indian International Movie
Awards, Asiavision Movie Awards, the Vanitha Film Awards, and
the Asianet Film Awards.
Sweetheart Nazriya Nazim is on par with Fazil when it comes to
being under the spotlight. With a childhood well spent in Al Ain,
UAE, Nazriya had formerly set her sights on pursuing a career in
business, but had to leave due to tight shooting schedules. Starting
of as a child artist alongside Mammootty in 2006 flm Palunku, she
was instantly catapulted into the limelight.
Her impressive acting skills earned her a place in Mohanlals
OruNaalVarum and Mammoottys Pramani, both a force to reckon
with. She has acted in movies including Ohm Shanthi Oshaana,
VaayaiMoodiPesavum and BangaloreDays. Despite being at a ten-
der age of 19, she has received a string of accolades, with 2014 ac-
knowledgements from Vikatan Awards, Vijay Award and Filmfare
Awards South bestowing her with the title of Best Debut Actress
for her role in the comedy-thriller movie, Neram.
farhana@khaleejtimes.com
Stardom
SAPIL
Onam
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
16
Farhana Chowdhury
S
pending quality time with
family and friends does not
require a special occasion,
however, some celebrations
enhance the concept of together-
ness and give many a reason to
build stronger ties.
Anish John, a Corporate Train-
er and Business Consultant at Ga-
bria & Touche Consultancy, and
the President of Al Nahda Toast-
masters Club, considers Onam
as an ideal time to let his Keralite
roots shine.
Like other expat Malayalees,
we take pride in celebrating Onam
in the UAE with our relatives and
friends. In addition, we have al-
most every school and college
alumni, clubs and associations,
and even churches, celebrating
Onam in Dubai. The irony is that
Onam is a 10-day celebration in
Kerala whereas in Dubai, it might
extend up to Christmas! This is
evident from the table reserva-
tions at eateries during weekends.
You can also see Malayalee men
dressed up in dhotis, women in
saris, and children with fowers.
You can hear the crunch of ba-
nana chips, the smell of pickles
and payasams and lots of athapuvu
during this period. The feeling of
being in Kerala lasts for a quarter
of the year in Dubai, he beamed.
John is a fan of every dish
involved in the sadya feast,
complete with a variety of pickles
and payasams.
Taking a trip down memory
lane, he fondly recalled his young-
er days, In the contemporary era
of nuclear family, it is festivals like
Onam that bring the essence of
joint family into reality in Kerala.
We miss this great opportunity
of togetherness of the festival if
celebrated in Kerala. Being in
Dubai, we miss our parents and
grandparents, uncles and aunts,
nephews and nieces, cousins and
other relatives; who would other-
wise had been part of the festival
gathering if in Kerala.
Self-described as a friendly, so-
cial and family-oriented person,
he is a passionate worker. He also
enjoys public speaking, motivat-
ing people and fnding solutions
to problems. As a member of Al
Nahda Toastmasters Club, a club
for the enhancement of com-
study at Indian High School (IHS),
Dubai in Grade III and KG-2 re-
spectively. Pritika is a metro baby
and is turning fve years old on
09/09. This year, her birthday falls
in the week of Onam and Dubais
Metro celebration making the fes-
tival very special.
farhana@khaleejtimes.com
Keeping the
spirit alive
Expat Keralite communities create a feeling of
being home for Onam that lasts for a quarter
of the year, no matter where they are
munication and leadership skills,
John takes the platform as an op-
portunity to explore and develop
his interests.
John might be busy with his
career and other responsibilities,
but he puts his family ahead as a
top priority.
Family is not just important,
but everything to me. I ensure that
I spend ample time with family,
especially with the kids, since it is
these memories and moments that
they will cherish in life, he said.
This year is a bit more special, as
his youngest daughter is set to cel-
ebrate her birthday during the 10-
day festivities.
Our daughters, eight-year old
Ankita and four-year-old Pritika,
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ANISH JOHN WITH WIFE
PRAVEENA AND DAUGHTERS
ANKITA AND PRITIKA
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
17
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
17
W
asl properties wishes readers
of Khaleej Times a very happy,
healthy and prosperous Onam.
This harvest festival is signif-
cant to wasl, as it is celebrated by some of
its customers, as well as by employees of the
organisation.
wasl honours Onam as a part of its multi-
cultural outlook that values heritage and tra-
dition as core components of its operations.
The organisation recognises the festival as
a refection of the nations diversity and in-
clusive approach to all communities and cul-
tures. As one of the UAEs largest property
management groups, wasl holds itself up to
be a mirror of the countrys progressive ide-
als of tolerance, harmony and integration.
This May, wasl celebrated the sixth an-
niversary of its founding under the vision
of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai. Under the wise leadership of Chair-
man Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, the company has wit-
nessed six incredible years supporting the
growth of Dubai. Much of this development
has drawn inspiration from the traditions
and rich heritage of Dubai.
Perhaps the best example of its approach
is the newly-built wasl district, which is lo-
cated in Deira. wasl district is redeveloping
the site that hosted the frst modern hospi-
tal in the emirate the Al Maktoum Hos-
pital. It consists of a museum dedicated to
the medical history of Dubai, and stands
as a proud tribute to the emirates heritage
and progress.
The wider development is a showcase of
traditional Emirati architecture, featuring a
traditional style souk selling both heritage
items such as carpets, antiques, furniture,
perfumes, spices, musical instruments and
modern-day products such as electronics,
fashion and jewellery. The layout evokes the
spirit of ancient Arabic heritage and com-
munity with narrow, winding sikkas lead-
ing you through courtyards, residences, a
hotel and ofces assuring a diverse range
of amenities for residents and visitors.
wasl's recent residential projects, wasl
amber and wasl onyx, both located in the
Umm Hurair area near Karama Post of-
fce, are further evidence of the companys
drive to modernise the older communi-
ties in Dubai. The twin developments are
designed to enhance the locality, bring-
ing modern urban-style living to the well-
established residential area popular for its
shops, banks, malls, hotels and restaurants.
wasl trio, a three-block mixed-use building
in Muraqqabat, Deira, has also been specif-
cally designed to rejuvenate its location by
complementing it with modern residential,
retail and hospitality facilities. The soon-
to-be launched wasl vita brings a diverse
mix of commercial and residential units to
Jumeirah, all boasting the most modern of
facilities, but all styled with an eye for fami-
ly-oriented and community living.
Since its inception in May 2008, wasl
properties has gone from strength to
strength, with the organisation now serving
nearly 25,000 clients across it residential
and commercial projects. In preparation
for the forthcoming Expo 2020 and in line
with meeting the Dubai governments tar-
get of attracting 20 million visitors a year
to the emirate, wasl Asset Management,
the parent company of wasl properties, has
expanded its hospitality operations and
now has nine upscale hotels with more than
3,300 rooms in its portfolio.
Of course, a major aspect of being an in-
tegral part of the community should also be
about giving something back. wasl proper-
ties has excelled in this regard with its ex-
tensive CSR programme that has been a part
of its DNA. Right from the beginning, wasl
embarked on programmes of philanthropy,
corporate citizenship and social responsi-
bility. Such has been the impact of its CSR
activities, which have ranged from making
fnancial contributions to support womens
education and special needs programmes to
sending students on religious pilgrimages.
For all these contributions, the company
received a prestigious CSR award from the
Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
wasl is proud to follow in the footsteps of
Dubai in respecting tradition and welcoming
communities of all backgrounds. As we cel-
ebrate this wonderful festival of Onam, lets
cherish the values that we hold in common
values that continue to ensure that Dubai
shines as a beacon for the rest of the world.
wasl properties celebrates
heritage and wishes
everyone a very happy onam
Honouring tradition
and community
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
18
Onam
Say hello to a silky, smooth body
E
xcess body or facial hair
can be a problem for both
women and men. Fre-
quent hair removal includ-
ing shaving, plucking and waxing
are time-consuming, often pain-
ful, and always inconvenient. At
best, they ofer only temporary
results, for some only a few hours.
Laser technology has brought us a
better, safe and long-lasting way
to remove unwanted hair from
any part of the body, leaving skin
feeling smooth and healthy.
Riva Laser Medical Center of-
fers advanced laser hair removal,
state-of-the-art laser machine
with the combination of both Nd
YAG + Alexandrite, which has
deeper penetration, and the Zim-
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session absolutely pain-free.
Laser hair removal is the lat-
est technology used by men and
women across the globe to get rid of
unwanted hair on the body. Almost
anybody who has undesirable hair
is a candidate for laser hair remov-
al. Normally, four to six sessions are
recommended for best results.
A low-energy laser is used which
passes through the patients skin,
and is absorbed by the pigment in
the hair follicle. Each pulse of the
laser targets and inactivates a large
number of hair follicles. It is en-
tirely safe and generally painless,
with the laser selectively targeting
the hair follicle without damage to
skin. Multiple sessions are required
to achieve total hair removal.
The procedure is relatively
painless, best described as a rub-
ber band ficking against the skin
or a pricking sensation.
The most common areas which
men look for is beard shaping on
the face and neck. The next com-
mon areas are under arms, chest
and back. A lot of men with dark
hair prefer to undergo full body
laser for better hygiene.
Laser hair removal is also the
best option for treating ingrown
hair, and helps reduce hair growth
for those who are sufering from
PCOD and thyroid problems.
The services ofered at Riva La-
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RIVA
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
20
A YOGA PERSPECTIVE ON THE
FESTIVAL OF LIFE
The Indian culture is full of festivals and celebrations. It is one of the
most sharing, caring and well-networked communities in the world.
No matter where they go, the festivals go with them. Onam is the big-
gest celebration in Kerala, which celebrates the return of the super
hero, King Mahabali. It is believed that he returns every year, on the
auspicious day of Onam to check on his peoples well-being and hap-
piness. It is a 10-day celebration of the human spirit, which is uncon-
querable and eternal, ever-evolving, expanding and generous. No
diferent from the tenets of Yoga, which we consider as anniversary
celebration of the human spirit that longs for oneness and harmony
with all creation.
The practice of Yoga is commonly understood as a set of postures
and breathing techniques performed for the ftness of the mind,
body and soul. However, what a dedicated, uninterrupted, respect-
ful practice really does is to unchain human spirit that is vast and
unlimited, like King Mahabali, unconquerable and eternal. The tre-
mendous, untapped potential locked up inside every human being
can be unveiled by a single practice called Yoga. It is a methodology
and practice that carries the ability to transform man from being av-
erage and unhappy to extraordinary and content. That would be the
true celebration of Onam.
Yoga tips for a festival-filled life
Stretch, strengthen, massage and sleep your way to a stress-free life.
These four activities turn on your para-sympathetic nervous sys-
tem. Turn of your sympathetic nervous system for a healthy, happy
and fun-flled life. The autonomous nervous system is divided into
two parts sympathetic and para-sympathetic. The sympathetic,
which triggers the fght or fight response in the body, is a stress ac-
tivator. The para-sympathetic controls the rest and digest response.
It activates relaxation, enjoyment and healing.
Activate deep breathing and bid goodbye to worry and anxiety.
The more you use your breath by paying attention to it through
the day, the more you activate your inner potential.
Perform inverted postures and see your perspective change. As
soon as you take your legs up in the air and hold them higher than
your head, you will be flled with fresh energy. Fresh ideas will come
pouring into your head, as you invert your blood circulation.
Eat your way to health, happiness and enjoyment. Chew your food
well, let it mix with your saliva and allow your digestive enzymes
to break down the heavy festival food. More than the quantity,
move towards a qualitative way of eating, enjoying every morsel
to the fullest and not letting any favour escape you.
And fnally, just as onasadya is one of the most celebratory and
yet well balanced multi-course meal, ft for kings, Yoga is a prac-
tice that enables you to live life king size and make each day and
moment so special that your entire life becomes one long festival
worth celebrating over and over again.
THE GREATEST
CELEBRATION
Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga is a Yoga company founded by
internationally renowned Himalayan Yogi, Dr Bharat Thakur.
For any queries about Yoga and ftness, you can get in touch with
Bharat Thakur Artistic Yoga at 800YOGA or 800-9642 or
write to dubai.artisticyoga@gmail.com. www.artisticyoga.com
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
22
Onam
Engine of growth
With high literacy rate and an enterprising population, Kerala is among
the few Indian states that betters the national average growth rate
Sadiq Shaban
W
hen it comes to
key growth indica-
tors like GDP, per
capita consumption
and capital expenditure, Kerala
surpasses the national average.
The state has also shored up its
strength in sectors like educa-
tion with the teacher-pupil ratio
increasing from two teachers per
100 students to four per 100. The
state has recently witnessed posi-
tive trends in non-traditional em-
ployment avenues and areas such
as self-employment.
Economically, Kerala is going
steady. The growth trend is sup-
ported by healthy fgures. The
south Indian state registered an
impressive growth of 8.2 per cent
for the FY2012-13 against a na-
tional rate of sub 5 per cent.
Primarily an agrarian society,
monsoons play a crucial role in
the states overall economy. This
year the rains arrived over the
southern Kerala coast in June and
while experts forecast below av-
erage rainfall, Kerala is expected
to pull through. Home to Indias
pepper and rubber production,
the state produces coconut, tea,
cofee, cashew, and spices such
as cardamom, vanilla, cinnamon
and nutmeg in large quantities.
The state has not lagged in oth-
er vital sectors. Kerala has a very
vibrant industry. While the tex-
tile and electronics industry has
fourished, small-scale and me-
dium-sized industries have also
boomed in the state. Curiously,
the electronics industry has come
up in a big way, registering as a top
revenue earner for the state.
Technopark in Thiruvanan-
thapuram is the largest informa-
tion technology park in India in
terms of built-up area. Dedicated
to IT ventures, there are more
than 285 companies operating
out of the park involved in soft-
ware development, smart card
technology, process control soft-
ware design, engineering and
computer-aided design software
development, IT Enabled Services
(ITES) and animation, etc.
To promote innovation and
entrepreneurship among the
youth, Kerala is creating a prod-
uct start-up ecosystem in the
state. This includes expanding
and transforming start-up vil-
lages into a multi-nodal inno-
vation, incubation and business
eco-system centres.
The states Industries and IT
Minister PK Kunhalikutty recently
remarked that the state will set up
10 incubators dedicated to crucial
sectors such as agriculture, animal
husbandry, dairy, fsheries, elec-
tronics and medical electronics.
Infrastructure is another key
area where Kerala scores high.
With more than 145,700 km of
roads (comprising 4.2 per cent
of Indias total roadways), most
of the state enjoys full connec-
tivity. With four times the road
density than the national aver-
age, Kerala has eight designated
national highways.
The states banking and finan-
cial infrastructure is flourish-
ing too. Top private banks such
as HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank,
ABN Amro Bank and several
top PSUs have well-established
presence in the state. The State
Bank of India has more than
200 branches and the Syndicate
Bank has 115 branches in all 14
districts of Kerala. Dhanalaksh-
mi Bank offers more than a 100
branches in the state.
Tourism has been a major in-
dustry in Kerala. Growing at an
excellent rate of 13 per cent, the
sector is a big contributor to the
states economy. New initiatives
like a seaplane project have been
launched recently to enhance the
travel experience. Kerala Tour-
ism has signed an agreement
with UNESCO this year to begin
a historic cooperation between
the state and the worlds foremost
cultural organisation in promoting
and protecting the ancient Spice
Route heritage.
Apart from its usual tourist
infow, Kerala is a major destina-
tion in the health tourism sector
owing to its reputation in mod-
ern as well as traditional systems
of treatment like ayurveda, yoga,
meditation and homoeopathy. As
per a CII-McKinsy report, medi-
cal tourism industry in Kerala is
expected to be worth $4 billion
by 2017. The state is aiming for
medical tourists from Middle
East, a region where the costs of
surgery and post-operative care
are usually quite high.
With its huge expat population,
Kerala leads in receiving funds
from overseas Indians. The state
remains the top recipient, con-
tributing 33 per cent to the total
remittances into the country, sug-
gests data from the World Bank.
Foreign remittances support the
states economic output by more
than 20 per cent. While majority
of expatriates in the state are from
Kasargod, Kollam, Mallapuram,
Ernakulam, Thruvanthapuram
and Kottayam districts, most
Keralities continue to aspire for a
strong and vibrant state.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
Infrastructure
is another key
area where
Kerala scores
high. With more
than 145,700
km of roads,
most of the
state enjoys full
connectivity.
MARINE DRIVE, KOCHI
AL RAZOUKI
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
24
Onam
An ode to a rich culture
Dr Moopen and his family
overcome obstacles of a
modern world for a taste of
traditional favour
DR AZAD MOOPEN
CHAIRMAN AND MANAGING DIRECTOR OF
ASTER DM HEALTHCARE
ALISHA MOOPEN, DIRECTOR STRATEGY,
ASTER DM HEALTHCARE
The feast is the most
delicious part of the
Onam festival, and if
someone enjoyed it once
is relished for years. The
elaborate vegetarian
meal is considered
as a much honoured
tradition, ensuring that
you treat the food and
your hosts with
great respect.
Farhana Chowdhury

H
aving spent a major part of his life
with his family in the UAE, Dr Azad
Moopen, Chairman and Managing
Director of Aster DM Healthcare,
observes Onam with zest.
I have been celebrating Onam here with my
colleagues and friends. I participate in the cele-
brations organised by some Keralite community
organisations here, he said.
Dr Moopen believes that the cultural compo-
nent of Onam is very important, mostly for Ker-
alites living away from their home. He added that
these celebrations play a signifcant role in re-
taining the age-old traditions and culture among
the youngsters and help them stay connected to
their roots.
Onam brings about recollections of the by-
gone times in our native village, the fun and frolic
with friends and relatives. The festival of Onam
brings a deep nostalgic feeling. It was that time
of the year to have the opportunity to share deep
bonds of friendship, he said.
His daughter, Alisha Moopen, Director Strat-
egy, Aster DM Healthcare, recalled her dearest
memories of the colourful occasion, For Onam,
we generally go to our family and friends places
who would have adorned their doorsteps with
pookalam, the intricately designed fower mats.
We have onasadya, the elaborate vegetarian meal
on banana leaf which is always fun for the kids
too, as it is a unique experience and brings back
fond memories for me.
Onasadya is the festive nine-course meal,
known to be one of the most extravagant and
magnifcent meals prepared by any culture or
civilisation in the world.
Speaking about his favourite feast, Dr Moopen
said, The feast is the most delicious part of the
Onam festival, and if someone enjoyed it once
is relished for years. The elaborate vegetarian
meal is considered as a much honoured tradi-
tion, ensuring that you treat the food and your
hosts with great respect.
Alisha added that her favourite Onam dish is
the payasam, namely pal payasam and the ada
prataman.
Family members back home pitch in to pre-
pare the raw materials for the onasadya, while
children design the fowery decorations for a
pookalam. The tradition enhances quality time
between families and strengthens their ties.
I think making the fower mat with friends
and family is one of my favourite traditions
of Onam, said Alisha. The smell and vivid
colours of fresh fowers, as well as the diferent
kinds used to create beautiful patterns is a fun
experience with friends and family members.
The whole idea is to make your home beautiful
to welcome the mythical King Mahabali, there-
fore, the decorations and embellishments are a
key feature of this festival. In addition to this,
you have lovely ladies in traditional costumes
dancing to kaikottikali, a graceful dance around
the pookalam.
According to Dr Moopen, some practices are
slowly becoming a rarity, as the demands of a
cosmopolitan lifestyle, notably in the UAE, pose
a challenge. Despite obstacles, Keralites continue
to observe the 10-day celebration.
Onam forms an inevitable part of Kerala cul-
ture. The celebration holds special memories for
all Keralites, irrespective of where they are living
in, whether in their homeland or any part of the
world. The celebration is all about understanding
the spirit of togetherness and sharing the pros-
perity among all members of the society.
farhana@khaleejtimes.com
ELEKTA
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
26
Onam
It is about smells the wafting aroma of butter, bananas and jaggery.
It is about fragrance the divine scent of owers, incense and camphor.
It is about sounds the rustling of silks, the promising clatter of pots and pans.
It is about ambience the aura of tradition brought to this far away land.
It is about camaraderie the fun of friends and families congregating.
It is all about Onam... the festival that ushers in great bonding, the harbinger of good times to come.
A time to rejoice, revel and recount
Young UAE residents reminisce their happy years of Onam celebrated in this
cosmopolitan country. By Manjula Ramakrishnan
Sana Lohi
IT Service Management An-
alyst, Emirates Airlines
O
nam in Kerala be-
gins 10 days before
the actual day with
foral competitions, shop-
ping expeditions and metic-
ulous spring cleaning. But
none of this native favour
is lost when celebrating
Onam in the UAE and hav-
ing enjoyed the gaiety of 30
Onams in Dubai, I think I
have earned the right to de-
clare this! Onam morning
begins with a typical break-
fast of steamed bananas,
crunchy pappadam, variety
of payasams to tantalise the
taste buds and best of all is
the convergence of family
and friends in the spirit of
Onam. Local associations
showcase Onam rituals,
giving us a smacking taste
of celebrations back home.
Subish Surendran
Sales Manager, Caravel Logistics ME LLC
M
y most memorable Onam was when my
company had organised a pookalam and
we went in our mundu and enjoyed the
onasadya. Our ofce
continues this prac-
tice to date, and this
generates a sense of
great camaraderie.
While I still miss the
awesome feast that
my mom makes, we
meet our friends and
make the best of the
day. We take our foreign friends to restaurants for
the Onam feast, who enjoy the experience of eat-
ing with their fngers, sans forks! Onam is about
the aroma of food, the scent of new clothes and
the spirit of being a Malayalee.
Shalini Sreejith, Senior Credit Analyst, Emirates NBD
O
nam sure brings a huge smile to my face. Draped in onakodi and having my
husbands non-Keralite friends over for the feast has given me fun times to
cherish. But what I miss in Dubai are the Onathappan prayers, the Naadan
group songs, swings on trees, the setmundu worn by ladies in Kerala and my dearest
grand mom. After patting our stomachs in contentment after the feast and having
devoured my favourite Paaladapayasam, Surya and Asianet TV channels ofer visual
delight. Once the present years Onam is over, I start pining for the next Onam!
Dr Shyam
Viswanathan Pillai
Ayurveda Medical
Practitioner, Dr Shyams
Ayurveda Centre
E
ach Onam we try to
bring Kerala to the
UAE with a pookalam
in our clinic and a grand
feast, for Onam is all about
making happy memories.
It is said that King Mahab-
ali visits peoples houses
on Onam day and if our
VIP guest should decide to
come to Dubai, he will be
witness to how we Malaya-
lees celebrate Onam with
such fervour here. In Kerala,
the monsoon cleans up the
azure sky and air; in the
UAE the desert sun ofers
bountiful warmth. Onam
is a festival of togetherness
and there is great bonding
that happens during this
Onam month of Chingam.
Krishna Priya Nandakumar
Media Planner,
Model and Kathak Dancer
T
wo-and-a-half de-
cades of being in
the UAE sure brings
forth a burst of happy Onam
memories. As a child grow-
ing up here, I have enjoyed
and with gusto participated
in the pookalam and Thiru-
vathira part of traditional
Onam; I have also thrown
myself with gay abandon
into the sinfully rich ona-
sadya. Right from the place-
ment of the banana leaf for
the feast, to the order in
which the dishes are served,
there are set rules! I help
every year with the feast, as
eating it with generous ap-
preciation too is assistance
rendered!
E
ach year, Onam has been extra special with people
from various nationalities wishing us, knowing
how important the day is for Malayalees! For en-
couraging this spirit of oneness, we have to thank the
Rulers of the UAE, who have been overwhelmingly gra-
cious with expatriates. With innumerable restaurants
ofering delicious onasadya, the feast whether cooked
at home or relished outside promises a fully sated
tummy. Onam is a time to make merry and to merge
with traditions.
Bejoy Ravindran, Senior Buyer, 4Corners General Trading
DOUBLE HORSE
FOOD PRODUCTS
Distributor enquiries solicited from unrepresented areas in India & Abroad:
E-mail: info@manjilas.com, mojexp@asianetindia.com, mojexp@manjilas.com, manjilasosk@gmail.com
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
28
Onam
O
nam is the biggest
and ancient festi-
val celebrated in
the Indian state of
Kerala during the
Malayalee month
of Chingam (August - Septem-
ber) and marks the homecom-
ing of legendary King Mahabali.
The Carnival of Onam lasts for
10 days and brings out the best
of Kerala culture and tradition.
Intricately decorated Pookalam,
ambrosial Onasadya, breathtak-
ing Snake Boat Race and exotic
Kaikottikali dance are some of
the most remarkable features of
Onam the harvest festival in
Kerala. Bank of Baroda, GCC Op-
erations wishes all its customers,
patrons and well-wishers a very
Happy Onam.
Bank of Baroda has 5,000 do-
mestic branches and 104 overseas
ofces spread out in 24 countries
across the globe. The bank has
more than 140 branches in the
State of Kerala in India.
Bank of Baroda is the only In-
dian bank in the UAE ofering for
over 40 years the entire range of
fnancial products and services
to all segments NRIs, Retail,
SMEs, Corporates, taking care of
their entire banking and fnancial
requirements. To take care of and
understand the specifc requests
of each segment, the bank has
established specialised outfts
like Retail Banking Shoppe, SME
Loan Factory, Corporate Banking
Unit, Syndication Centre, Cen-
tralised Trade Finance, State-of-
the-art Treasury Operations and
special NRI desk.
Special NRI desk in all the six
branches in the UAE are set up
to ofer exclusive and preferred
services/attention to the NRI
segment and to take care of NRE
customer needs like NRE/FCNR
deposits, housing loans, mortgage
loan etc. The bank has introduced
a special loan product for NRIs in
its basket of oferings, which gives
an excellent value proposition to
the NRI who can borrow from the
bank at a lesser interest rate than
what he/she earns on the NRE
term deposit in India.
Being an Indian bank, the ma-
jority of its 350,000 customers
are NRIs and the bank takes care
of their Indian banking require-
ments also. The bank ofers prac-
tically all NRI banking services in
the UAE itself. It opens NRI ac-
counts, provides cheque book, ac-
count statements and many other
services for NRIs in the UAE itself.
The bank works with the philoso-
phy that NRIs, you need not go
to India for your banking require-
ments, we bring India to you.
To serve its customers better,
the bank is continuously introduc-
ing new products and services. It
ofers online, EMV chip-enabled
VISA debit card, instant remit-
tance through Rapid Funds2In-
dia to over 5,000 branches in In-
dia and to over 60,000 branches
of other banks in India. It has
introduced Friday Remittance
Services (the only bank in the
UAE to ofer these services). The
bank has increased ATMs to 38.
Many of the ATMs are fully func-
tional, accepting both cash and
cheques.
Besides Indian business enti-
ties, the bank has also proactively
fnanced and supported a good
number of organisations owned
by Emiratis and has also extend-
ed support and fnance to some
important organisations of the
UAE Government. It has, of late,
emerged as a preferred banking
destination not only for expat In-
dians but also for other nationali-
ties as well.
Besides, the banks strong global
presence, dedicated and profes-
sional work force, transparent and
reliable dealings have been the hall-
mark of its functioning that appeal
and attract the customers the most.
The bank continuously at-
tempts to adapt to the dynamic
economic environment while en-
gaging in long term relationships
to provide superior customer
service which ofers the key ad-
vantage to BOB customers among
many others.
Owing to the pragmatic ap-
proach of the governments of
both the countries and Bank of
Barodas active engagement for
furtherance of bilateral trade
relationship by way of making
trade fnance and other solutions
proactively available, India has
emerged as the largest trading
partner of the UAE.
The bank has emerged as a
key market diferentiator in the
banking landscape of the UAE.
It is one of the major connecting
forces between the UAE and In-
dia in facilitating and promoting
the bilateral trade. In fact, Bank
of Baroda is acting as a banking
bridge and is truly aligned to the
economy of these two great na-
tions. It is also instrumental in
providing all required fnancial
services in a seamless manner to
all those who do matter in con-
tributing to the development of
these two countries. The bank
takes pride in playing a vital role
as a vehicle for channelising in-
vestment fow between the UAE
and India.
As part of its expansion plan,
the bank has recently opened its
10
th
Customer Service Centre
(EBSU) at Shabia, a prime and
strategic location in Abu Dhabi.
On this auspicious occasion
of Onam, the bank rededicates
itself, with renewed vigour and
enhanced passion, to the service
of these great nations.
Strong global presence
Bank of Baroda continuously attempts to adapt to the dynamic
economic environment while engaging in long-term relationships
Bank of Baroda
is the only
Indian bank
in the UAE
oering for
over 40 years
the entire range
of nancial
products and
services to
all segments
NRIs,
Retail, SMEs,
Corporates,
taking care of
their entire
banking and
nancial
requirements.
LALIT MOHAN ASTHANA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
BANK OF BARODA
GCC OPERATIONS
BOB
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
30
Onam
Laxmi Menon
T
he very existence of man
depends upon how he
maintains his own body
and his mental attitude
towards life. Human beings have
the supreme ability over other
living things, to think and reason
for themselves, and most of the
time, we use this ability for other
external purposes, for our work,
business, fnance, etc. and never
towards ourselves.
In other words, we dont pay
enough attention to our well-be-
ing. Nature by itself has extended
many wonderful things that we
tend to ignore most of the time,
pretend not to notice or even close
our minds towards them. If we
give some thought to it and try to
look at it positively, we will come
to the strangest conclusion that
we dont have to look further for a
better life.
All of us love to live well. It is
important that we take care of
our body and mind well so that
life becomes more organised and
enables us to go ahead with hap-
piness in what we do everyday.
The healthy functioning of our
immune system is the single key
to maintain an active and cheer-
ful interaction towards the world
and people around us, so that we
spend each and every single day
being productive and meaningful.
A sound immune system helps
maintain proper balance between
the body and mind, and also tends
to increase our abilities to interact
more confdently towards the im-
mediate surroundings.
One of the prime focuses here
is to have a better immune sys-
tem, to fnd out if our daily diet
is sufcient for our nutritional
requirements. Poor nutrition has
been shown to result in increased
infections, to slow healing from
injury and infections, and to in-
crease susceptibility to symptoms
and complications from immune
system dysfunction.
Science has shown that the im-
mune function often decreases
as we age. Recent research sug-
gests that this decrease is related
to nutrition. Foods high in fbre,
such as whole, fresh fruits and
vegetables, promote a healthy
gastrointestinal system in several
ways. Proteins, antioxidants, es-
sential fatty acids, and certain vi-
tamins and minerals are all key to
a healthy immune system.
Proteins, vitamins, carbohy-
drates, fats and minerals in the
right amounts boost your im-
mune system and help maintain
a healthy body. Genetically modi-
fed and processed food is not the
answer to well-balanced living. It
is always better to go for natural
foods, and to avoid artifcial and
processed or fast food. Eating
nutrient-dense whole foods is one
way to provide your body with the
full spectrum of nutrients it needs
while keeping calorie intake to a
healthy level.
It is not easy to follow a natural
diet in this busy world, where we
never spend much time for our-
selves. Still, remembering some
simple steps can help in the long
run. Fresh fruit and juices that
are not tinned or bottled are a
priority. This should be compul-
sory in our daily checklist. Whole
grains, salads, green vegetables,
fsh and meat are to be taken in
moderate amounts, managing
your cholesterol and pressure at
the appropriate levels.
Avoid packed food and snacks
that are processed. Deep-fried
chips, pastries, cakes, etc., can be
taken as special occasion treats.
Workout and exercise plans
should be done according to indi-
vidual requirements. Age of a per-
son also is to be considered when
you plan your exercise regime. Ev-
ery person has his/her own body
requirements. A custom-made
programme is always better, pro-
vided by your own health expert.
Foods such as dry fruits, nuts,
berries, yoghurt, etc. are natural
substitutes to unhealthy snacks
and can be taken at any time of
the day, even at your workplace.
Rich in many minerals and anti-
oxidants, these natural and organ-
ic food items are great sources of
nutrients for well-being.
Once you decide to take control
over your body and wellness, it is
only a question of getting used to
a healthy lifestyle, which is benef-
cial to you in innumerable ways, so
that you remain cheerful, active,
and confdent throughout the day
and are able to extend that great
personality to the outside world.
Delivering
wellness
Enjoy an improved immune system and better lifestyle with healthy eating habits
CBC
EMSONS
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
32
Onam
Suchitra Steven Samuel
F
or Abu Dhabi resident
Muhammad Ashraf,
Onam is the mother of
all celebrations, which
signifes unity and har-
mony. It also means onakodi,
pookalam and sadya. The fond-
est memories I have of Onam are
those little competitions with our
neighbours to make the best pook-
kalam, those trips to source the
fowers, even taking fowers from
our neighbours garden, the new
white shirt we would receive from
parents, the Maveli procession, the
new blockbuster movie released
during Onam, etc., he says in an
interview with KhaleejTimes.
An engineer with an MBA in f-
nance from the University of Ker-
ala, he is one of several successful
Keralites living the Gulf dream. He
is engaged in project management
related activities and is proud to be
associated with the development
of some major buildings in the
UAE, particularly in Abu Dhabi.
Currently, he heads the Devel-
opment Department of a leading
investment company, Link Inter-
national Properties based in Abu
Dhabi while pursuing his doctoral
studies with Michigan State Uni-
versity. His wife is Dr Bushra who
is an HR specialist. They have two
adorable girls, 12-year-old Azzah
and nine-year-old Aliah. Azzah
is very precious as we got her af-
ter a long wait of eight years. Both
my daughters are studying in Abu
Dhabi. One is a dainty darling
while the other is a sweet little
monster. As we are both working,
the time at home means quality
time with the family. My favourite
way of spending time is mainly
watching my girls grow. We re-
live our childhood through them.
We also like to keep in touch with
friends, he adds.
Ashraf loves to read fction and
indulges in music. I play squash
often and spend time in the gym or
the pool in our community. I make
it a point to be involved with family.
We play scrabbles, cards, test each
other on quiz questions or play an-
thakshari together, he adds.
Both Ashraf and Bushra dabble
with paint as well during their
free time.
Our family loves travelling. We
have our summer or winter back-
packs ever ready for a local or for-
eign trip. We have visited several
countries in the world, he recalls.
Ashraf prefers to be described as
a bindas gentleman, an extrovert
but deep inside a slightly conser-
vative person who is proud to be a
Malayalee. He prefers Kerala cui-
sine in whichever part of the world
he may be in or Indian restaurants
as an alternative to Kerala food.
He says, Malayalees are very ca-
pable people. We love Gods Own
Country and its cuisine.
Ashraf feels that to a great ex-
tent, Onam celebrations become
pseudo when celebrated outside
Kerala. The real spirit is missing
when our near and dear ones are
not with us for the occasion. It is
not fair when an Onam pookalam
is spread inside an apartment and
fowers are purchased from a shop
when it is supposed to be spread
in the front yard with freshly
picked fowers and ona pattukal
being played in the background.
I do miss the smell of hot freshly-
cooked rice served on banana
leaves, the taste of diferent types
of payasams, and the smell of the
kodimundu, he recalls.
suchitra@khaleejtimes.com
Living with tradition
Muhammad Ashraf
is a successful
expatriate Malayalee
from Kozhikode,
who has been living
in the UAE since 1991
MUHAMMAD ASHRAF WITH HIS WIFE BUSHRA AND DAUGHTERS AZZAH AND ALIAH
I do miss the
smell of hot
freshly-cooked
boiled rice
served on
banana leaves
and the taste of
dierent types
of payasams.
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
34
Onam
Cochlear implant is one of the fnest medical innovations, aiding
many with hearing disabilities to acquire speech, language and social skills
Hear loud and clear
T
oday, there is a growing
need to alleviate disabling
hearing loss. According to
the World Health Orga-
nization (WHO), there are around
360 million people worldwide who
are currently living with this dis-
ability. This number could increase
as we grow older.
Children and adults who are
deaf or experience severe difculty
in hearing can now beneft from
cochlear implants. Cochlear im-
plant is a small, complex electronic
device that helps provide a sense of
sound to the person. It consists of
two portions one part sits behind
the ear, and the second one is surgi-
cally placed under the skin.
The implant is made up of three
elements: a microphone that picks
up sound; a speech processor that
selects and arranges sounds from
the microphone; and a transmit-
ter that receives signals from the
processor and converts it into
electric impulses sent to the inner
ear. While hearing aids amplify
sounds so that damaged ears can
detect it, cochlear implants by-
pass damaged portions of the ear
and directly stimulate the audito-
ry nerve to the brain, which helps
recognise a sound.
People are able to associate sig-
nals provided by the implant with
sounds they remember, and dont
require visual cues like sign lan-
guage or lip-reading. While there is
a certain risk involved, cochlear im-
plants are the worlds most success-
ful medical prostheses less than
0.2 per cent of recipients reject it or
dont use it, while around 0.5 per
cent require re-implantation.
Explains Dr Prashant Sharma,
Specialist ENT at International
Modern Hospital: Often adults
who develop profound deafness
are embarrassed by their disabil-
ity and feel forced to withdraw
from social exchanges with family
and friends. Deafness can lead to
unemployment, imposing an ad-
ditional psychosocial burden. Co-
chlear implants ofer a signifcant
improvement in comparison to
any previously tried hearing aid.
It can be of a great help, especially
for people who have recently lost
their hearing.
Cochlear implant is certainly
one of the fnest medical innova-
tions of recent times, aiding many
with hearing disabilities to acquire
speech, language and social skills,
thus improving their lives.
Thewriter,DrPrashantSharma,isa
Specialist ENT at the International
Modern Hospital, Dubai. He can be
reachedat04-406 3000.
M
O
H

A
p
p
l
i
c
a
t
i
o
n

N
o
.
F
X
9
6
8
9
4
Cochlear
implants bypass
damaged
portions of the
ear and directly
stimulate the
auditory nerve
to the brain,
which helps
recognise
a sound.
A man who truly believes in his cause
A social
entrepreneur
becomes a health
crusader by
revolutionising
menstrual health
for rural women
Sadiq Shaban
A
runachalam Muruganan-
tham is a man with a mis-
sion in every sense of the
word. The inventor of
a low-cost sanitary pad-making
machine has single handedly in-
novated a grass-root mechanism to
create awareness about menstrua-
tion health in rural India. Moved by
his wifes predicament, he started
designing a simple machine to pro-
duce sanitary pads for those who
cannot aford it. His innovation
soon caught the fancy of millions
who found it both hygienic and
cost-efective.
What lends credence to Mu-
rugananthams eforts is the fact
that his invention has the poten-
tial to save countless lives that are
otherwise susceptible to painful
urinary tract and related infec-
tions. A government of India sur-
vey conducted by AC Nielsen a
few years back found that only 12
per cent of women across India
use sanitary pads. That is where
Murugananthams brilliant prod-
uct comes in. Notably his mini-
machines can manufacture sani-
tary pads for less than a third of
the cost of commercial pads.
At the core of his mission lies a
deep empathy for the poor who can
ill-aford to buy expensive pads.
Muruganantham has already in-
stalled his mini-machines in 23
states in India. With the machines
usually going to rural communities,
millions of poor Indian women
stand a chance to experience free-
dom like never before. As a direct
result of his revolutionary product,
unhygienic rags and cloth are giv-
ing way to a product that is both
safe and easy to use.
Muruganantham wants more
people to beneft from his innova-
tion. His technology is very user-
friendly and can be easily adopted.
The main idea, Muruganantham
feels, is not only to increase aware-
ness about sanitary pads, but also
create jobs for rural women. Since it
is the rural communities that most-
ly beneft from his mini-machines,
women are usually employed to
produce the sanitary pads and then
sell them directly to customers.
It was only a matter of time be-
fore the world recognised his path-
breaking product. Muruganantham
was included in the Time maga-
zines 100 Most Infuential People
in the World list for 2014 for his
accomplishments. He has already
won a national innovation award in
India. More than 1,300 mini-ma-
chines made by Muruganantham
have been installed in the length
and breadth of the country. He
plans to expand to other countries,
and reach out to the poor in places
such as Kenya, Nigeria, the Philip-
pines, and Bangladesh.
Murugananthams eforts have
aided womens empowerment in
a very unique way. His innova-
tion has ensured that unprivileged
women can stay free and healthy.

sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
ARUNACHALAM
MURUGANANTHAM
Onam
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
36
Sadiq Shaban
S
ocial media has a profound
impact on our lives. Apart
from being the hottest
trend online, it helps friends
and colleagues stay connected and
gives people an amazing tool to
share their pictures and thoughts.
That is not all. Social media also
promotes open communication,
leading to enhanced information
delivery, making it one of the most
important tools to reach a much
wider audience.
Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn
are some of the most commonly
used social media platforms. While
staying in touch with each other
tops the priority list of those using
Facebook, Twitter on the other
hand is seen as an efcient and fast
source of information. Similarly,
LinkedIn helps users showcase
their work experience, making it
easy for peers and colleagues to
recommend and endorse your
skills and past work. It also helps
fnd the right people and connec-
tions through second and third de-
gree networks. This connectivity
has tremendous value in todays
digitally connected world.
However, there is a need to
strike a balance in the way we use
social media, because these net-
works have a tendency to distract
users and waste productive time.
Social networking can easily take
time away from other activities
and rule over from real time inter-
action. There is another problem.
Too much dependence on online
networking often sets up expec-
tations of importance for certain
types of communication at the
expense of other types. Sharing
pictures and phrases can take the
place of face-to-face time with
family and friends, setting up an
unhealthy practice.
While the jury is still out on the
exact balance that needs to be
struck between the positive and
negative efects of social media,
it has to be mentioned that social
networking has proved to be an ex-
tremely accessible medium of self-
expression to those with access
to the Internet. This has not only
democratised the way information
is shared, but also helped friends
and families, torn apart by circum-
stances, stay in touch quicker than
ever before.
On the other hand, sceptics
have argued that social media of-
ten exacerbates the gap between
people who have access to com-
puter technology and those that
dont, further widening social in-
equities. Moreover, some lumpen
elements in society can leverage
the power of social media for bul-
lying, intimidation or by using
abusive language. A huge disad-
Handle
with
care
Social media has
tremendous value in
todays digitally
connected world if
used judiciously
vantage of social networking is
that a lot of netizens do not know
how to network efectively.
There is no denying the fact
that social media allows people
to discuss ideas, post news and
ask questions. It also provides us-
ers an opportunity to widen their
business contacts by targeting a
wide audience, making it a use-
ful and efective recruitment tool.
Apart from improving client base
with minimal use of advertising,
social media platforms have been
instrumental in implementing
marketing campaigns and deliv-
ering communications.
However, social media needs to
be carefully used because it also
opens up the possibility for anti-
social characters and hackers to
commit fraud. Professionally, too
much exposure to social media can
result in a negative feedback from
employers or potential legal con-
sequences if employees use these
sites to promote objectionable or
ofensive material.
When it comes to social
networking, many still follow the
'one size does not ft all' approach.
Social scientists say that there
is an urgent need to look at the
positive and negative aspects
of social networking for a more
healthy and balanced approach in
the online ecosystem.
sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
SHARING PICTURES AND PHRASES CAN TAKE THE PLACE OF FACE-TO-FACE TIME WITH FAMILY AND
FRIENDS, SETTING UP AN UNHEALTHY PRACTICE.
All eyes are on the 19-year-old cricket
sensation Sanju Samson, who was
recently included in the Indian squad for
the tour of England 2014
Sadiq Shaban
O
ne of the most promising entrants to Indian cricket dur-
ing recent years has been Sanju Samson. The Young Turk
has already proven his mettle in the role as the vice-cap-
tain of the Indian U-19 cricket team, apart from his bril-
liant batting display in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The wicket-keeper/batsman, who lives in Thiruvanan-
thapuram in Kerala, entered record books by becoming the
youngest player to score a half-century in the IPL and Champions
League Twenty20. Sanju bagged the Best Young Player of the
Season award in the 2013 IPL in a popular online contest. His
moment of glory recently came when the selectors picked him up
for the Indian squad for the limited-overs matches in the India
tour of England 2014.
Sanjus rise as a cricketing prodigy has been an inspiration to
other youngsters in Kerala. Recognised for his solid batting skills,
he further honed his talent upon getting a place in Keralas U-19
team, while a brilliant run in the Cooch Behar Trophy (domes-
tic U-19 championship) catapulted him into Indias team for the
U-19 Asia Cup in 2012.
After a somewhat mild performance at the Asia Cup, Sanju re-
turned with a bang. In the Ranji Trophy he started of by scoring
a century against Himachal Pradesh in adverse conditions before
ending the season with many splendid knocks. In the IPL that fol-
lowed, the star batsman shone for the Rajasthan Royals. His 63-
run knock in 41 balls against Royal Challengers Bangalore was
hailed as one of the best performances in the tournament.
Another IPL season in 2014 witnessed an impressive showing.
Sanju Samson, who scored 192 runs in six matches, was the sixth
highest run scorer of the tournament. There is no looking back for
the Kerala lad. sadiq@khaleejtimes.com
Star rise
Full name: Sanju Viswanath Samson
Born: November 11, 1994, Pulluvila, Vizhinjam,
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Batting style: Right-hand, middle-order batsman
Teams: Kerala (2011/12-2013/14); Kerala (2011/12-
2013/14); Rajasthan Royals (Indian Premier
League: 2013-2014); Rajasthan Royals
(Champions League: 2013/14); Kerala (Main
Twenty20: 2011/12-2013/14); Rajasthan
Royals (Main Twenty20: 2013-2014); India
A(Other ListA: 2013/14-2014); South Zone
(India) (2013/14); India Under-19s (Under-19
Test: 2013); India Under-19s (Under-19 ODI:
2012-2013/14); India Under-19s (Under-19 two
innings: 2013); India Under-19s (Under-19
limited overs: 2012-2013/14).
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
38
Onam Onam
Bounteous
Natural beauty
L
ap up the best of
nature in Gods Own
Country. Sleep under the
auspices of the sky in
the Backwaters; explore
the magnanimity and
bounties of wildlife;
shop in the modern
locales of the age-
old city; or indulge in
a close rendezvous
with the local tribes;
Kerala oers plenty of
adventurous and fun-
lled escapades.
KUMARAKOM COIR SPINNING
P
h
o
t
o
s
:

K
e
r
a
l
a

T
o
u
r
i
s
m
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
39
Natural beauty
KASARGOD BACKWATERS
DRINKING WATER PROJECT - TRITHALA
ROPEWAY MALAMPUZHA KODANAD ELEPHANT RIDE
PADDY FIELDS
Hi,
I am your scalp hair; the crowning glory that gives you your beauty.
Although you may not realise it, I am mistreated daily through pulling,
straightening, curling, colouring, heating, cooling and much more. By
doing this, you weaken me.
Everyday in the name of grooming, you make hundreds of my broth-
ers and sisters fall. This is because you damage me with sharp bristled
combs, rather than blunt or rounded ones. Sometimes when you share
combs, you infect me with lice (pediculosis). Luckily, I have the gift of
regeneration.
When you buy shampoos without knowing the ingredients, do you
know this can cause irritation, pigmentation, phototoxicity, keratolysis,
keratitis and corneal opacity? Similarly, using anti-dandruf shampoos
for a scaly scalp can harm me; it could be due to fungus, psoriasis or
something else other than dandruf. Therefore I urge you to think twice
about what you use; and hope you do not fall for the cheapest deals.
In the name of fashion or to look younger you may colour
me with various methods such as metallic dyes, especially when I
become grey. Metallic dyes that contain lead acetate, silver nitrate and
bismuth salt, make me brittle and damage my cuticle. Synthetic dyes
are the most hazardous. They can lead to allergic contact dermatitis-
redness, swelling and blisters. Later, they cause anaemia and cancer
of the bladder. If you must dye me, I recommend vegetable dyes like
unadulterated henna, commonly used in India, Pakistan and Bangla-
desh, or extract of walnut shell and log wood, used in Rome.
In the name of waving, you subject me to a process of softening
(glyceryl monothioglycolate), reshaping (curlers/rollers) and harden-
ing (hydrogen peroxide, sodium perborate, sodium bromate, etc.) that
causes allergies, weakening and hair discolouration, respectively.
In the name of straightening, you use pomades, hot comb
(petroleum jelly, liquid paraffin, etc.) or cold methods (caustics,
thioglycolate sodium bisulphite, etc). This causes irritant dermati-
tis and in turn damage my structure. In the name of bleaching, you
use hydrogen sulphide with ammonia. This makes me dry, porous
and tangled.
I am gifted with much endurance, but can only take so much before
I depart. If you want to show me gratitude, please feed me with zinc,
iron, protein, calcium, selenium, biotin, and matilex. If you add eggs
to your diet, I will become stronger. Finally, if you prefer to beautify
me, please consult a dermatologist or trichologist.
ThewriterisaSpecialistDermatologist
attheSunriseMedicalCentre,
Sharjah.Toreachthedoctor,call
06-575 7003or056-230 9535
Take better care of your scalp for a
healthier mane

Dr Soundara Rajan
A hairy tale
MOH approval No: TD28900
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
41
Bhaskar Raj
O
nam, for me, is nostalgia.
The good old childhood
days in my village when
we celebrated Onam in all
its gaiety. Even now, the festival is
the reminiscence of every moment
of those bygone days.
The fondest memories are,
though it may sound clichd, wan-
dering around my village with
friends to pluck, often steal, fow-
ers for making the foral patterns
(athapookalam), sneak out to watch
movies those so-called Onam re-
leases and in the adolescent days
engaging in ethnic and rustic sports
such as thalapanthu kali (a sort of
handball and football combina-
tion) with country-made stufed
leather balls.
Being away from Kerala on the
Onam season yes, its a season of
festivities, feasts, snake boat races,
temple festivals, cultural extrava-
ganzas and of course the rendez-
vous reminds us to enjoy the
nostalgia than be rueful.
I think Malayalees have brought
the Onam festivities from Kerala to
the UAE, if we look at the fervour
with which they celebrate Onam
here. So, we dont miss much, ex-
cept the Onam aura in the air, the
weather and the presence of our
dear ones back home.
Of course we celebrate Onam
here. My wife prepares the ona-
sadya, the traditional feast with
innumerable dishes, to give a taste
of Onam to my son and our non-
Malayalee friends.
I have been living in Dubai for
the past 12 years with my wife
Mini and son Manu, who came to
our life eight years ago. We enjoy
the excellent infrastructure of a
city life in Dubai.
Being a Malayalee means a lot
for me. As we all know Malayalees
constitute the largest community
among the expatriate Indians in the
UAE. I am proud to be a Malayalee
as our compatriots are appreciated
by the host country for their hard
work and loyalty and serving the
country in various capacities, as la-
bourers to top ofcials in corporates
and government organisations and
as successful entrepreneurs.
Travelling is my hobby. What
we look forward to is our frequent
week-end outing, sometimes
overnight, with some family and
friends to Fujairah, Khor Fakkan,
Ras Al Khaimah, Hatta or Al Ain.
Occasional camping in deserts and
parks with friends is what we enjoy
the most.
If we dont go out on weekends,
its my turn to take over the kitchen.
I, with my son as my assistant chef,
experiment every conceivable dish,
though not well appreciated by my
wife, who is a good cook.
The author is the Associate Editor,
Business Benchmark. He is a regular
TV and radio commentator on the
stateoftheeconomy,investmentand
businessafairs.
Nostalgia alone
Onam through the eyes of a Malayalee
expatriate in the UAE
BHASKAR RAJ WITH HIS WIFE MINI AND SON MANU
KHALEEJ TIMES
|
SEPTEMBER 6, 2014
42
Onam
E
stablished in 1959 by late
M O John, Founder leader
of KVVES one of Kera-
las biggest associations of
traders, Manjilas Double Horse
that essentially began as a rice
trading company, was the frst to
import German-made Bheuler
machines that introduced stone-
less sortex rice about 20 years
ago. It was also the frst brand to
ofer rice in convenient 5kg and
10kg rice bags. Sixty years later,
Manjilas Double Horse, on the
strength of its unparalleled qual-
ity and product range, has grown
to become a brand thats synony-
mous with good food and has a
strong market presence in India
and abroad.
Today, the company deals in
20 varieties of rice and a wide
range of food products including
breakfast powders, breakfast ce-
reals, breakfast mixes, curry pow-
ders, masalas, curry mixes, curry
pastes, pickles (both vegetarian
and non-vegetarian), preserves
in brine, traditional desserts,
payasam mixes, health food, in-
stant food, ready-to-cook, and
ready-to-eat products.
Developed by an ISO certifed
R&D team and manufactured us-
ing the fnest ingredients as well
as the latest technology including
state-of-the-art Retort Technology
for sterilisation for processing and
packing, Double Horses range of
ready-to-eat and ready-to-cook
products ofer a huge variety of
products like instant idiyappam,
rice sevai, payasam mixes, chakka-
varatty (jackfruit preserve), pazham
varatty (banana preserve), and sug-
ar-free diet payasam mix for health-
conscious people and diabetics,
among other traditional delicacies.
With a strong market presence in
Kerala, Double Horse is fast emerg-
ing as a preferred food brand and
is being exported to more than 30
countries including USA, Canada,
Europe, Australia, New Zealand,
Middle East and the Far East.
Double Horse has become synony-
mous with rice in its base market in
Kerala. Today, the companys turn-
over amounts to Rs230 crore. It has
a fast growing customer base and is
targeting sales revenue of Rs500
crore by 2017.
The company employs around
1,000 people directly and pro-
vides indirect employment to
thousands of others.
Manjilas Double Horse is cur-
rently managed by Ranji John,
Chairman; Sajive Manjila, MD;
Vinodh Manjila, Director Mar-
keting; and Santosh Manjila, Di-
rector Production) the sons
of late M O John.
Synonymous with good food
Manjilas Double Horse ofers a delicious range of products with a presence in over 30 countries
THE LEADERSHIP OF MANJILAS DOUBLE HORSE: SAJIVE MANJILA (LEFT), RANJI JOHN, VINODH MANJILA AND SANTOSH MANJILA
Double Horse is
fast emerging
as a preferred
food brand and
is being exported
to more than
30 countries
including the
USA, Canada,
Europe,
Australia, New
Zealand, Middle
East and the
Far East.