St Raph's joins Cowra community in celebrating Kerala Onam festival

The Cowra Kerala community recently came together to celebrate Onam, the annual harvest and cultural festival of Kerala, India. Onam, steeped in tradition, is a time of joy, colour and festivity, honouring the legend of the benevolent King Mahabali, who is believed to return each year to visit his people. This year’s celebration at St Raphael’s Hall, Cowra featured traditional singing, dancing, and a shared community meal, bringing together families, friends, and guests in a vibrant cultural exchange. The event highlighted the warmth and generosity of Kerala traditions, while also creating opportunities for locals to learn more about one of India’s most cherished festivals. For St Raphael’s Catholic School, Onam holds a special significance. In recent years, many families from India, and indeed Kerala have made Cowra their home, with so many choosing St Raph’s as the school of choice for their children. The St Raph's community has in turn been immensely enriched by the culture, diversity and traditions these families bring. St Raphael's Catholic School Year 6 Teacher, Mrs Raelene Beecher and her husband, Mr Gerard McGill, also on staff at St Raph's, attended the celebration as guests, along with several St Raph’s families and students. Attendees joined the festivities in traditional dress and proudly shared their personal experiences of Onam. “Events like this show the richness of our growing community in Cowra,” Mrs Beecher said. “At St Raphael’s, we are delighted to welcome new families and celebrate the traditions they bring with them.” The Onam festival in Cowra was a true celebration of culture, community and belonging and St Raph's was thrilled to be a part of this joyous occasion.