While Mumbai's South Indian community has long been associated with Matunga, the city's diverse cultural landscape reveals that vibrant Keralite populations also thrive in pockets such as Kalyan, Chembur, Goregaon, and Malad. As the Onam festival approaches, mid-day.com engaged with Mumbai's Keralite residents to delve into their family traditions
Onam 2023 is observed from August 20 to 31, with the significant day of Thiruvonam on August 29. Photo Courtesy: iStock
For Sarada Narayan, Onam is the best time of the year in Chembur. It is because her family hails from Palakkad in Kerala and moved to Mumbai many decades ago. Sarada says the central suburb boasts of a lot of Keralites but not many people know about it. "You may spot more of us in a crowd here than any other community," laughs the 30-year-old. "Since there are a lot of Tamils and Keralites in Chembur, I am sure my grandfather must have chosen Chembur for a reason," she adds.