Historic Distress: NMCA skips the Onam celebration this year

NASHIK: Due to the devastating floods in Kerala. The Malayalee community in the city of Nasik has decided to skip the Onam celebrations this year. A team of Nasik Malayalee Cultural Association (NMCA) has left for Kerala for the relief work while others are staying back in Nashik, raising funds for the flood-affected areas.

“We can’t celebrate the festivals when our brethren in Kerala are in historic distress. The conditions at our homeland are severe and there is no relief from flood situation till now. The Onam celebration is not at all on our cards. Our members are busy in raising flood relief funds instead,” said G K Pillai, president of the Nashik Malayalee Cultural Association.

According to Pillai, the flood disaster in Kerala is historic. “I am 73-year-old and I had never seen such disaster. The water is being constantly released from dams and it is affecting the towns and villages on the banks of the local rivers,” he added.

Anup Pushpangathan, the general secretary of the association told a source that many members of the community in Nashik have already left for their native places in Kerala. “We sent our first relief cheque today only. The NMCA has also issued an appeal to our friends to contribute as much as possible to this cause. Situation is worsening day by day and our brothers and sisters in Kerala are really in need of help, this is one of the worst periods in Kerala’s history. I would like to request all to please contribute as much as possible,” said Pushpangathan.