A Malayali can work in any part of the globe and with any community and culture, which makes him distinct, said State Governor SC Jamir at the 50th Golden Jubilee function of Kerala Kala Samiti (KKS) here on Sunday.
The KKS has more than 500 members in Bhubaneswar and over 3,000 across the State. The KKS meets regularly to celebrate festivals such Onam and Christmas in a big way with lots of cultural and sports activities.
The warmth of the local community and pleasant climate encouraged people from Kerala to look at Odisha as a home away from home, said KKS president Benjamin Simon.
The Malayalis struggled to reach out to the people in remote areas that were not accessible to the outside world and contributed to their growth. Some of the members and children have even married with the local community members. It has contributed to Odisha’s development in the sector of social service, nursing and healthcare.
“Between Odisha and Kerala there have many similarities of culture,” said Mass Education Minister Debi Prasad Mishra. The celebration was supported by the Culture Department of Kerala.
Many dance forms of Kerala especially Mohini dance and martial art were performed. The cultural exchange programme promoted both communities to know better about their rich cultural heritage, develop mutual love and respect and share peace in the community.
Students were presented with certificates and mementos for securing highest marks in school examinations.
First lady of Odisha Alemla Jamir, MlAs Bijaya Kumar Mohanty and Priyadarshi Mishra, Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena, KKS secretary Chandra Mohana Nair, Jubliee Committee convenor M Somabalan and 35 delegates from the Cultural Department of Kerala were present.