Club FM 99.6 of Mathrubhumi celebrates day long festival Ulsavam 2016

Media Brief

Kochi, November 15, 2016:

Club FM UAE 99.6, the first overseas radio station from Mathrubhumi celebrated a day long festival “Ulsavam 2016 “for the Malayali diaspora.

Tiny fingers sketching pictures, the tender notes of pure music, competitions between different varieties of payasam and pickles, the melodious notes of Onappattu, flower carpets shaped in tandem with Onam songs, the graceful Thiruvathira steps, the assortment of tastes of the Aaranmula sadya, high-beat rhythms, an ocean of music the one-day festival organized for the Malayali diaspora community.

The Mathrubhumi Ulsavam 2016, was organized at Sharjah Expo Centre was novel, not only in terms of participation but also in terms of the zeal of the audience. The festival metamorphosed into a fresh experience for those who came to witness it.

The Ulsavam began with the children showcasing their talents with zeal by competing with each other in series of competitions which included drawing, painting and classical music.

As the day progressed the festival became more colourful and aesthetic and witnessed pickle & payasam making competitions. This was a venue for Malayali women of different age, from different Emirates to showcase their culinary skills. The highlight of both the competitions was the unconventional ingredients used. Everything from quail eggs to sardines became ingredients for the pickles. The beef – walnut combination won the first prize. Variety contributed to the punch of the payasam making competition. Traditional ingredients jostled for space with five fruit combinations, aloe- vera – soya chunk, snake gourd –lentils, dates –walnut-badam- oats, coconut water jaggery etc, the five fruit special payasam came first in taste and quality.

The grand fiesta was also a stage for teams of women from the Malayalee diasporic who made their entry on the main stage with the graceful steps of Thiruvathirakali followed by the melodies of Oppana, competitions exhibiting high standards following traditional styles. Along with this a flower carpet competition was also organised which saw a riot of colours with Kerala’s marigold and jamanthi flowers dominating. Unions and peer groups showcased their talents in the flower carpet competition. Apart from traditional designs, there were designs of girls plucking flowers, boat & oar and onam wishes.

The day was still long and bright with lots of sheer excitement and roaring crowd .Amidst this aura The Grihalakshmi (Mathrubhumi periodical) competition was conducted for home makers and young women which included various qualifying rounds and towards its end the best couple were chosen. Aarthi Suraj, was selected and titled Grihalaskhmi along with Nisho Yusuf winning the charming personality title, and Prathibha Premnath bagging the prize for best walking.Film star and main judge Reenu Mathews along with P S Srikumar, Grihalakshmi Mathrubhumi GCC General Manager and Midhun Srivallabh, Malabar Gold, Marketing Executive conferred the prizes to the winners.

The festival concluded with popular singer Vidhu Prathap and Sayanora who rocked the stage with their music, along with Kallor Ramakutty Maarar who created magic on the chenda with ease, the audience of about 3000 people swayed to the tunes. It was a day where the participants competed with vigor, each stage became a venue for new friendship and bonding. It was a day where the participants competed with vigor, each stage became a venue for new friendship and bonding. A day filled with cheerfulness, exuberance, excitement and nostalgia for the Malayalee diaspora.

Speaking on this occasion Shreyams Kumar, Director- Electronic & Media, Mathrubhumi Printing & Publishing Co Ltd said “It is indeed a great initiative undertaken by our team, the festival has truly served its objective of metamorphosing in to a fresh experience for the Malayalee diaspora living in Gulf “.

For further information please contact:

Anupam Luthra

Email: anupam@mpp.co.in

MOB: 9061089000