Trevor Sturgess, one of our Deputy Lieutenants, attended the annual Festival of Onam organised by the Kerala Cultural Association in Maidstone in September. As this took place during the mourning period, the event opened with two minutes’ silence and a tribute to the Her Late Majesty The Queen.
Onam is an important annual Hindu cultural festival in the Indian state of Kerala. It celebrates the harvest and the return of Mahabali, a mythical king who ruled Kerala with benevolence and good governance. The King was represented by a member of the Kerala community and, preceded by a number of children scattering flower petals, made his entrance to warm applause from a large audience. A round floral carpet made from petals was the centrepiece of celebration. The event was also attended by Cllr Claudine Russell, Lead Member for Leisure and Arts at Maidstone Borough Council.
Trevor had a wonderful time and thanked the group for their huge contribution to the community.
