Malayalee associations preserve traditional values through their activities for the younger generation to imbibe and carry it forward. Malayalam is being taught to children free of cost at three places of the city. Besides, vocal and musical training is also being imparted to the children.
There are seven associations working in Bhopal. They are- Kerala Samajam, Shri Narayan Sandesh Parishad, Shri Narayan Guru Mission, Shri Narayan SN Mission, Kairali Samajam, United Malayalee Association (UMA) and Bhopal Malayalee Association (BMA). There are only three organizations UMA and BMA are engaged in helping the children learning their language.
UMA is conducting Malayalam classes on Saturday and Sunday evening at Shri Narayan Bhawan in Subhash Nagar. There are 12 students in the class at present. The classes are free of cost to encourage the students who cannot afford to pay for the classes. During summer vacations, the classes are regular on each day.
Similarly, BMA is also conducting Malayalam classes where 56 students were present in the last term and the next will start in April. “To save the culture, the association is organising dance and other cultural activities,” said president of BMA Joyee.
Traditional dances are also being taught under the UMA and Shri Narayan Guru Mission by Pradeep and Nelson to the interested students at nominal charges.
Publicity officer of UMA Deepak Damodaran said, “To keep the tradition intact a fully flourished library with Malayalam books and its Hindi and English translation are available and it is accessible to all members. Different cultural activities organised by the UMA are debate competitions, speech presentation, dance performances and GK competitions.”
Blood donation camps, eye camps and cardiac camps are often organized by these Malayalee Associations. Here, all traditional pujas are carried out from time to time and Chadaym celebration is the most important celebration which brings us together, Dhamodaran added.
All festivals including Onam, Vishu, Vijaydashmi, Shivrathri and Ganesh Chaturti are celebrated here.
President of BHEl Ayappa temple SA Pillai said, “This temple is made similar to Shabarimala temple and all the pujas performed there are also being performed here. During the season starting November 17 to January 14 the fasting period there are different functions and pujas organised every day.”
RS Pillai Temple committee Head of Ayappa Bhajan Samaj Shivaji Nagar said that they felicitate meritorious students of fifth, eighth, 10th and 12th and conduct dance and speech completion to encourage the cultural spirits in the youngsters. The membership fees is only `250, added RS Pillai.