Onam clebrations unite students

While the neighbouring state of Kerala is all set to celebrate Onam on Wednesday, campuses in Mangalore are not far behind in celebrating the festival.
Thanks to the large number of students from different parts of the country including Kerala, Onam celebrations have become a part and parcel of the campus' cultural activities in recent years. The festival is celebrated in almost all the campuses in the city.
Interestingly, it is not celebrated by just the students, but also by the staff and management who participate in the cultural activities and add to the enthusiasm of the students. They also join in for the sadyam (Onam spread).
M G Hegde, managing director, Mangalore Institute of Fashion Technology, says the college management has to support and promote such activities. "These are not just celebrations but are grand occasions and help in fostering understanding and cooperation in campuses with a cosmopolitan culture," adds. In their college they provide the facilities to conduct cultural programmes and a kitchen to cook the Onam sadya. The cooking is done by the students and expenses, too, are borne by them, he explains.
Sebastian K V, HoD, Shree Devi Institute of Social Work, too feels that Onam has become a celebration of our own with local students, too, taking part in the celebrations with equal enthusiasm. Onam and celebration of other festivals in campuses help create a sense of oneness and understand the cultural values of others in campuses with students from different cultural and linguistic backgrounds.