Malaysian PM greets Malayalee community on Onam

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysia's Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has greeted the country's Malayalee community on the occasion of Onam.

According to the Star, "As the Malayalee community in Malaysia ushers in the harvest and thanksgiving festival of Onam, a festival which is celebrated by all Malayalees, I call upon Malaysians to join me in wishing them 'Onam Ashamsegal'", Razak wrote on Facebook.

"In the spirit of 1Malaysia, let us join our Malayalee friends in celebrating this festival together," he added.

Over million Malayalees in Malaysia are celebrating Onam today.

Onam, which is celebrated by people of Malabari descent in India, marks the climax of the harvest season and onset of cultural season in Kerala.

Selangor and Federal Territory Malayalee Association Committee Member G. Suresh said Malaysian Malayalees celebrate the festival similarly, the New Straits Times reports.

"Buying and giving family members new clothes, preparing and enjoying the sadya are the most important aspects of the celebration", he said.

"There is also a saying in Malayalam, the native language of Malayalees, that tells the importance of Onam-'If one had to sell one's only asset to celebrate Onam, one had to do so'," he further said. (ANI)