TIMMINS - As vibrant floral decorations adorned the room and the aroma of authentic Kerala cuisine filled the air, a local association celebrated its annual festival with the hope of giving newcomers a taste of home.
Uniting over 250 people, on Sept. 14 the Timmins Ontario Malayalee Association (TOMA) celebrated its seventh Onam festival.
Founded in February 2018 by Shine Johnson, Cyril George, Tom Antony and Jerin Edwin, TOMA has evolved from a small group of friends into a thriving organization, Johnson told TimminsToday.
“We built TOMA to create a community where Malayalees can connect, celebrate their cultural heritage, and support one another while respecting and embracing Canadian values,” he said.
Johnson said Onam is not just a festival; it embodies peace, love, and unity, transcending barriers of caste, religion and social status.
Celebrated in Kerala, India’s southernmost state, Onam is a 10-day harvest festival that commemorates King Mahabali, whose reign is remembered as a golden era of harmony.
This year’s festivities took place at the McIntyre Community Building, with some people from Kirkland Lake, Cochrane and Toronto attending. It featured traditional prayers, speeches and cultural performances and games.
Attendees donned traditional attire, men in dhoti and shirts and women in kasavu sarees, salwar kameez and lehenga cholis. The event also offered a spread of authentic Kerala cuisine.
Dozens of newcomers participated in the event, most of them students attending Northern College, Johnson said.
“It’s all about their social welfare and their mental happiness. We don’t want them to feel alone here in Northern Ontario,” he said.
Like many of the newcomers he’s hoping to help, Johnson himself moved to Timmins in 2016 to attend Northern College. At the time, he said there were only a handful of them in the area from the Malayalee community.
“There were not many East Indians or international students in general here in Timmins. I think there were only like 20 international students,” he said.
TOMA’s growth mirrors the increasing diversity in Timmins, where international student numbers have risen significantly, Johnson said.
“The aim is not to impose our culture but to find a balance… Preserving our rich traditions and passing them on to future generations, while also integrating into the diverse and inclusive fabric of Canadian society,” he said.
“The association serves as a bridge, allowing members to maintain their roots while contributing positively to the broader community, promoting unity, cultural exchange, and mutual respect.”
