The Onam Celebration held at the Hub on Monday 5 September attracted a large gathering of Flinders University students who enjoyed a very vibrant taste of Indian festivities.

The annual harvest festival of Onam is celebrated throughout the state of Kerala and this year, through the efforts of Honours student Ms Celestine Cherupallil who was recently appointed the International student support for College of Science and Engineering, Onam was also celebrated at Flinders’ Bedford Park campus.

With help from the College of Science and Engineering and the International Student Services team, the Onam was celebrated by about 100 students, mostly from India, who attended the event in the Hub and wore their traditional Keralan costumes.

International and domestic students and university staff got to taste Payasam, a traditional dessert made from rice pudding, milk and spices, and Pookalam, which is flower carpet-making (pictured). There was also lots of dancing and laughter, providing a joyous cultural experience that certainly make students from India feel very much at home at Flinders.