Indian community marks ‘Harvest Day’

Hundreds of south Indian community living in Rwanda under their umbrella, Rwanda Malayalee Association (RMA) on Sunday evening gathered at Utexrwa grounds to observe the Harvest Festival, Onam.The association is comprised of Indians of Kerala origin.Onam, an equivalent of Rwanda’s Umuganura Festival, is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala and it falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (August to September) and honour the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali.Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition.“We appreciate our stay in Rwanda. The country is secure, clean and friendly to everybody who wants to do business,” said Binoy Thomas Chairman of RMA.Thomas stated that their organisation provides community services within the limits of their resources which include promotion of social welfare, educational and cultural programmes to bond their culture with Rwandans.The colourful event also included “the sumptuous Onasadya” – the special Onam meal where delicious spreads of delicacies are served in banana leaves.“We are contributing to Agaciro Development Fund. I have mobilized all the people from Rwanda Malayalee Association to contribute to the fund,” Thomas said.“We are happy to be part of Rwanda’s development process.”Over 1,500 Indians living in Rwanda are involved in all kinds of business that include among others, industries, education, construction, infrastructure, ICT and telecommunication.

National

Indian community marks ‘Harvest Day’