More than 2,000 people stepped into a slice of old Kerala in Singapore on Aug 15 as Singapore Kairalee Kala Nilayam (SKKN) marked its 70th anniversary with the grand finale of its Kairalee Kampong Onam 2026 celebrations.
Held at Sembawang Recreation Centre, the full-day event combined Onam traditions with Singapore’s kampong spirit, featuring folk arts, dance dramas, storytelling, traditional games, competitions and a 21-dish Onam Sadhya.
The celebrations were designed to evoke memories of Onam in Kerala during the 1980s and 1990s, when festivities revolved less around elaborate stage shows and more around neighbourhood participation.
“The idea behind Kairalee Kampong Onam was to bring together two very familiar ideas – the traditional community spirit of Kerala’s Onam celebrations and Singapore’s own kampong spirit,” SKKN president Rajith Mohan said.
“We wanted to bring back some of the childhood memories of Kerala from the 1980s and 1990s – a time when Onam was less about big stage productions and more about the whole neighbourhood coming together.”
Village-themed installations, pookkalams, traditional games and family activities helped create that atmosphere, while an Onam dance-drama by Kairalee Dance & Theatre was among the cultural highlights.
Instead of asking audiences simply to sit and watch performances, organisers encouraged families to participate throughout the day.
“The idea was very simple: Onam should be something people experience together, not something they only sit and watch,” said SKKN secretary Manoj ABS.
More than 2,000 people, including families, children, performers, volunteers and guests, participated in or attended the festivities. Significantly, all the cultural programmes were curated and performed by Singapore-based talent.
Minister of State Dinesh Vasu Dash joined the celebrations, with the organisers saying his presence was especially meaningful during SKKN’s milestone year.
During his speech, Mr Dinesh highlighted the role community organisations play in bringing people together and preserving traditions across generations.
Singapore Indian Fine Arts Society vice-president S. Venkita Padmanabhan said the event successfully combined cultural pride with Singapore’s multicultural identity.
“Kairalee’s 70th anniversary is a remarkable milestone, and Kampong Onam was a wonderful celebration of culture, community and togetherness,” he said.
“I was particularly inspired by the message of unity in diversity – preserving our individual cultural identities while strengthening our shared Singapore identity.”
He also praised SKKN’s young leaders and volunteers for delivering a celebration on such a large scale.
Food, inevitably, was another centrepiece.
More than 900 people sat down to a traditional 21-dish vegetarian Onam Sadhya served on banana leaves, creating one of the most striking spectacles of the day.
For attendee Girija Venkatraman, the combination of food, music and traditions made the occasion memorable.
“Our Onam experience was truly beautiful and memorable, filled with colours, traditions, music and togetherness,” she said. “We loved being part of this wonderful celebration and experiencing the warmth and vibrant spirit of the Kairalee family.”
She particularly enjoyed the Sadhya, describing it as “absolutely delightful”.
“It was amazing to see such a grand traditional feast lovingly served to around 1,000 people,” she said.
IT professional Kavitha Raj felt the celebration succeeded in transporting participants back to Kerala while retaining the warmth of a community gathering.
“It was celebrating Onam the Kampong way, with the colours, flavours and traditions of Kerala, friendship all around, and keeping the spirit of Kerala alive in Singapore,” she said.
The Aug 15 event was the culmination of a wider 70th-anniversary Onam programme that began with a Vallam Kali at PAssion WaVe @ Jurong Lake Gardens on July 19.
The competition brought a Kerala-style boat race back to Singapore after a 13-year absence. Eleven teams – seven men’s and four women’s – raced 10-seater dragon boats over a 100m course. Trophies were presented during the Kampong Onam finale.
The anniversary carries particular significance for SKKN, which was established in 1956 and has grown alongside Singapore and successive generations of Malayalees.
“Reaching 70 years is a very proud and emotional milestone for Kairalee Kala Nilayam,” the organisers said.
“For us, the 70th anniversary is not only about looking back at our history, but also about recognising the generations of volunteers, artists, families and community leaders who kept the organisation active and relevant.”
The organisation has particularly strong roots in theatre and has staged more than 250 dramas, providing a platform for generations of Singapore-based actors, writers, directors and artists.
Its activities have since expanded to sports, youth initiatives, family programmes and wider community events.
The participation of second- and third-generation Singapore-born Malayalees is especially important as SKKN seeks to ensure traditions remain meaningful rather than simply being preserved.
Recent initiatives such as the Vallam Kali (boat race) and Kampong Onam reflect that approach by moving beyond conventional stage programmes towards immersive community experiences.
As SKKN enters its eighth decade, the organisers said the objective is clear: “Our focus is not simply on preserving the past. It is about carrying our heritage forward in a way that remains meaningful to the next generation and relevant to Singapore’s multicultural society.”
