College campuses never disappoint when it comes to Onam celebrations. LBS Institute of Technology for Women, Poojappura, had its Onam celebrations on August 23 with games, songs, feasting and lots of fun. A pookkalam contest for different streams in the college set the event rolling. Twelve teams participated in the contest. A Vanchipattu contest followed.
The grand Onasadya was an elaborate affair with 1,250 people enjoying a delectable Onasadya. “This must the biggest Onasadya on our campus. We arranged for a room on the campus with all infrastructure facilities, equipment and utensils and the dishes were prepared there. Unlike previous years, we had three payasams this time,” says an excited Fathima Sasiya M.I., college union chairperson. She adds: “The construction workers on the campus and officials and staff members of all important institutions and offices around our campus were invited.” There was also a tug-of-war contest between the staff members and students, which the latter won.
A major event of the day was the Miss Malayali Manga contest. Ten students who were selected after the preliminary rounds fought it out for the title. The judging panel comprised the staff members. There were three rounds – self-introduction, rapid fire questions, and on-the-spot questions. Vaishnavi of Electronics and Communication Engineering stream won the title.
The surprise event of the day was the Miss/Mrs. Malayali Manga and Mr. Malayali contests for the staff members. “They didn’t know about it. The winners were chosen by a secret ballot among the students. The winners were given a settu-mundu and a dhoti respectively,” Fathima says. Deepu Gopi and Janusha of Computer Science department won the Mr. Malayali and Mrs. Malayali titles respectively. The staff members also presented cultural programmes.
Onam at All Saints’
All Saints’ College had its Onam celebrations with a wide range of programmes. The students designed the pookkalams on the campus. Onam songs, thiruvathirakali and other programmes were held. A Malayali Manga competition was organised in which Anupama, a second year degree student, won the title. Outdoor games such as tug-of-war and uriyadi heightened the festive mood before the students began their Onam holidays.
