Queenstown Malayali community comes together for first Ponnonam 2026

The Malayali community in Queenstown came together for its first Queenstown Ponnonam 2026, bringing the traditions and spirit of Kerala’s Onam celebrations to the South Island town.

Around 70 people, including families and children, gathered at St Peter’s Anglican Church Hall for the community celebration.

For organisers, the event was about more than simply marking Onam. Living far from Kerala, the community wanted to create an opportunity for children growing up in New Zealand to experience their cultural traditions and stay connected to their roots.

The celebration featured a traditional pookkalam and nilavilakku, along with Thiruvathira, Malayalam songs, cultural performances and traditional Onam games. Children and adults participated in dances and couple performances, while the programme also included a payasam competition and musical performances.

Jayesh Menoth, Simi Jayesh, Binto and Shiyas coordinated the event with support from the wider Queenstown Malayali community.

Nimmi, Sruthy, Neethu, Maria and Mridula coordinated the dance programmes, while Sanchit, Shilpa and Ayana hosted the event. Majo, Paru, Febi and Ashwin entertained the gathering with musical performances.

A traditional Onam sadhya was another highlight of the celebration. Served on banana leaves, the Kerala-style feast offered many attendees a taste of home and brought back memories of Onam celebrations in Kerala.

Jibin George and the team from Malabar Kitchen, Invercargill, prepared the sadhya, while Kerala Feast South Indian Takeaway supported the preparation of the pookkalam.

For families, watching children participate in the cultural activities was among the highlights of the day. The celebration also reflected the community’s efforts to maintain cultural connections while building their lives in New Zealand.

Onam’s traditional values of togetherness, sharing and community were central to the gathering, with organisers hoping to pass these values and Kerala’s cultural traditions on to the younger generation.

Celebrating Onam among Queenstown’s mountains offered a different setting from the festivities back in Kerala, but the community spirit remained familiar.

The first Queenstown Ponnonam marked a small but meaningful beginning for the local Malayali community, providing an opportunity to celebrate together, remember Kerala and help the next generation stay connected to their cultural roots.