Portage la Prairie's residents from Kerala, India celebrated Onam yesterday just outside of Bagot.

Neenu Shibu's lived in Manitoba for close to 5 years, and says they moved the celebration from Island Park to Myrna Buhr's home, just a short drive from Portage. Shibu says the celebration lasts 10 days and is kicked off with the creation of a floral carpet. "In Kerala, they do a floral carpet from the first day with flowers. So the first day it's just a single design, then it goes round and round." She says it's mostly about family and having fun.

Shibu and her son (left)

"All the family and friends from Portage la Prairie, and also a little bit from Winnipeg and a little bit from Brandon. So we all come together and it's sort of like Thanksgiving like (Canadians) celebrate. It's something like the same, we all come together and just share in the happiness and just eat all the food."

Buhr's been working with newcomers for some time and says it was a pretty special gathering yesterday.

"I've been involved with immigrants for about 6 or 7 years. So I've learned quite a bit over the years about their culture, and the group that is here today is just from the province of Kerala of India. So not from any other provinces, just all from Kerala."

Everyone who took in the event.

Shibu adds they even have some great entertainment.

"Actually back home we do have a traditional dance, but here, nobody's prepared to do that, unfortunately. And different things and plays like the tug-of-war."

See pictures from the celebration below.