3742(III)_Feast of Our Lady and Onam Festival - South Asia migrants

By Fr. Dolphie Sequeira, SDB

Hong Kong, September 13, 2015 - As part of the South Asia Migrant ministry in Hong Kong, the Catholic community among the migrants celebrated last Sunday the Feast of Our Lady with colorful procession on the campus of St. Louis School in Western Hong Kong.

The whole celebration was concluded with a special dinner that remembers the famous Kerala State (South - West of India) ONAM FESTIVAL. Onam is a traditional Hindu festival that lasts 4 days and it's celebrated as the harvest - thanksgiving occasion The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August - September) and marks the commemoration of homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees (Kerala inhabitants) consider as their King. On the photos you can see the traditional dishes served on this occasion (banana leaves as plate).

For the East Asia countries this festival resembles the Full Moon Festival (Autumn Festival in China, Korea and Vietnam) that falls this year on September 27.

The South Asia Migrant ministry in Hong Kong with a presence of just one confrere from India might be strengthen soon with a possible arrival of (long time wanted and expected) second Salesian from another Indian SDB province to Hong Kong.