By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
There are 70 different languages spoken in Chatham-Kent, including Malayalee.
It’s the language of people from the South Indian province of Kerala. Today 150-plus families from the region are calling C-K home.
Now in its third year of operation, the Malayalee Association of Chatham-Kent is gearing up for its annual ONAM Harvest Festival to be held at Ferguson Park in Thamesville Sept. 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s but one of the many events on the menu for the Taste of Chatham-Kent (TOCK) which kicked July 27.
Nissam Madathil, program co-ordinator for the association, said many families chose to move to the municipality from the GTA following the pandemic.
Traditional food, dancing, singing and a tug-o-war competition will be held during ONAM – a celebration that’s marked around the world. Organizers are currently putting out a call to the community to enter seven-member teams in the tug-o-war.
“There are cultural things that people miss when they migrated here, so we are trying to recreate some of that,” Madathil explained, noting food will be served on banana leaves, in the custom of Kerala.
However, while the association helps new immigrants feel at home, it also provides an opportunity for local residents to experience a different culture.
“We want to invite everyone to come out and get to know each other,” said association secretary Seby Joseph.
Food will be available for purchase at ONAM, but other events are free. Teams who enter the tug-o-war competition will need to pay an entry fee.
ONAM is but one of choices on the Taste of Chatham-Kent menu of activities.
With a focus on bringing together the diverse cultures that populate Chatham-Kent, TOCK has a host of activities planned for the event that runs till mid-September.
