MANAMA: The grand Onam celebrations of the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS), ‘Sravanam 2026’, were officially inaugurated by Kerala Cultural Affairs Minister P. C. Vishnunath on September 11. Addressing the audience, the Minister unveiled major initiatives to support the artistic and cultural endeavors of the expatriate community. He announced that the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi will host an NRI Theater Festival in Bahrain in the coming years, while the Kerala Folklore Akademi will organize ‘Gothrayanam’, a dedicated platform for NRI folk artists. He further assured continued support from Kerala’s Cultural, Social Justice, and Tourism departments for the diaspora’s socio-cultural activities.
The formal ceremony was followed by ‘Arudra’, a breathtaking Mega Thiruvathira performance organized by the BKS Vanitha Vedi. Featuring over 100 women dancers under the choreography of Preman Chalakudy, the event captivated the audience with its traditional grace and scale. Adding to the cultural showcase were ‘Parvathi Parinayam’, a dance drama conceptualized by Srinesh Srinivasan and directed by Ajith Nair, and a musical performance presented by the BKS Music Club.
The inauguration was presided over by BKS President P. V. Radhakrishna Pillai, with General Secretary Varghese Karakkal delivering the welcome address. Sravanam General Convener Harikrishnan B. Nair, Vanitha Vedi President Mohini Thomas, along with executive members of BKS, the Vanitha Vedi, and the Sravanam Committee, were present alongside prominent figures from Bahrain’s socio-cultural sector.