Muscat: Keralities living in Oman are fully geared up to celebrate their harvest festival, Onam on Wednesday.

Onam is celebrated to mark the mythical homecoming of King Mahabali, during whose reign the state known as ‘God’s Own Country’ is said to have witnessed the golden era.

Keralities wear new, traditional outfits and jewellery and also prepare the sumptuous Onasadhya, the grand feast that forms the most important part of the celebration. Served on banana leaves, a typical Onasadhya will include more than a dozen items along with rice.

With the most important day of Onam — Thiruvonam falling on Wednesday, some of those Malayalis here have taken-off from work. “I am taking off tomorrow because of Onam. As it comes once in a year, I prefer to be with my family and celebrate the occasion,” Rajeev Vishwanath said.

Onam offers
For Aishwarya Nair, Onam is all about nostalgic memories. “This is my first Onam away from home,” said the newly wed who recently arrived in Oman. “I have asked my husband to take off so we can celebrate it together,” she added.

From supermarkets to restaurants and jewellery shops, hundreds of commercial outlets, have also come up with various Onam Pookalam and plans. “There is a heavy rush in our hypermarket since last two days as Malayalis are coming to shop for groceries to prepare for Onam,” said a storekeeper at Lulu Hypermarket in Darsait.