A child performs on onnam at Kala Vikash Kendra in Cuttack. Picture by Badrika Nath Das

Cuttack, Sept. 4: The people of Malayali community, dressed in traditional attire, today celebrated Onam at Kala Vikas Kendra.

Onam, the most auspicious festival for the Malayali community, began with cultural programmes organised by the community members and children.

Apart from traditional folk songs and dance, a number of western dance performances by children were also staged on the occasion.

However, the solo Odissi performance by Aparna A, a Class II student, was the centre of attraction at the event.

Aparna began with Mangalacharan, followed by Shiva Shabda that was composed by guru Lingaraj Das. Later, she performed a dance recital based on the activities of Lord Krishna in his childhood and the Rasaleela with Radha and other gopis.

“I have been learning Odissi for the past 14 months. Today, it made me happy to perform on such an occasion,” said Aparna.

Moreover, women sporting mundu, the traditional Malayali attire, sang songs and decorated the floor with floral designs known as pookalam.