Unique 600kg Floral Onam Tribute Celebrates UAE’s Generosity

DUBAI: Medical workers at an Abu Dhabi hospital used 600 kg of flowers that were brought in from India to construct a unique Pookalam, a traditional Malayalam floral carpet, as a passionate homage to UAE values and the harvest festival of Onam.

Held at Abu Dhabi’s Burjeel Medical City (BMC) this year, the flower show symbolizes the UAE’s focus on tolerance, generosity, peace, sustainability and innovation, while embracing the spirit of the Onam festival.

A giant flower arrangement made of 600 kg of fresh flowers brought from India was arranged by more than 100 health workers at the atrium of BMC, the flagship hospital of Barjeel Holdings.

“Onam is not just a festival for us; it is a time to reflect the values ​​of unity and community. This year, we wanted our floral carpet to not only symbolize Onam but also reflect the values ​​that the UAE stands for.” Barjeel Holdings’ chief human resources officer, Dr. Sanjay Kumar, stated.

“This is a celebration of our cultures and shared ideals, especially in a year when the UAE has shown incredible kindness through initiatives such as visa waivers,” Kumar explained.

Recently, the country’s kindness and tolerance were highlighted by the introduction of the visa amnesty program, which permits people to regularize their visa status without paying heavy fines or administrative expenses.

While Onam is traditionally marked by grand celebrations at the BMC, this year’s celebrations were subdued in memory of the recent landslide in Kerala’s Wayanad.

The floral carpet stood as a symbol of unity, hope and collective strength, a reminder of how people come together in times of crisis, like the global and local communities that came together to help during the Wayanad landslide.