More than 100 Malayalee families and university students gathered in Ballarat to celebrate Onam, bringing together members of the local community for a day of cultural performances, traditional food and family activities.
Victorian MP Juliana Addison joined the celebrations hosted by the Ballarat Malayalee Association Inc (BMA), describing the event as an opportunity to celebrate Kerala’s harvest festival and share its traditions with the wider Ballarat community.
Onam is one of Kerala’s most important festivals and is traditionally associated with gratitude, family, friendship and prosperity. The Ballarat event featured cultural performances, children’s activities and the Onam Sadhya, a traditional feast served on banana leaves.
Addison said it was encouraging to see local families and students come together to celebrate their heritage while welcoming others into the festivities.
Community organisations such as the Ballarat Malayalee Association have emerged alongside a sizeable Indian population in the regional city. The 2021 Census recorded 1,846 India-born residents in the City of Ballarat, while 466 people spoke Malayalam at home, making it the third most commonly spoken language other than English after Mandarin and Punjabi.
Local community members say the Malayalee population has continued to grow since the 2021 Census, with more families settling in Ballarat and the city emerging as a regional hub for the community. The 2026 Census should provide a clearer picture of how much that population has grown over the past five years.
The celebration demonstrated the growing presence of Kerala’s Malayalee community in regional Victoria, where cultural festivals have become a way to maintain traditions across generations while building connections with the broader community.
Organisers said the event provided a space for families, students and local residents to participate in one of Kerala’s most cherished cultural celebrations.
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