Bendigo's Malayalam Community will celebrate the annual Onam Harvest Festival a little differently this year due to COVID-19.
About 550 Malayalee people from the South Indian state of Kerala live in Greater Bendigo, and the Onam Harvest Festival is one of the biggest events on their annual calendar.
It commemorates the annual visit of mythical king, Mahabali, who is considered to have ruled ancient Kerala.
Community member Roopesh Nair is playing the role of King Mahabali this year.
"Under his kingdom there were no bad things happening, people were always very happy at that time," Mr Nair said.
"Onam is celebrated in remembrance of him, and we believe that his spirit visits us at this time."
Usually a big celebration
In previous years, the growing Bendigo Malayalam community has gathered in the local Botanical Gardens for a festival of dance, song and food.
"We make a big feast with over 20 curries and rice, and people engage in plays and dances and social sports," Mr Nair said.
"It's the national festival in Kerala and all the Malayalees celebrate this festival, it doesn't matter what religion they belong to."
But due to COVID-19, the traditional Onam celebrations are not going ahead this year.
Instead, the Bendigo Malayalee Association, in collaboration with Loddon Campaspe Multicultural Services, decided to use the festival to check in on local families during the pandemic.
A unique model
King Mahabali will visit more than 150 Malayalam households and deliver masks, hand sanitiser and in-language COVID-19 messages.
The kit will also come with a special Onam dessert.
"Onam is kind of about happiness, and dessert makes it happy," Mr Nair said.
"It's a kind of pudding, so we are providing a kit which they can easily make."
Multicultural representative and community member Joby Sebastian said it's a unique model.
"Bendigo Malayalee Association is a growing migrant community, and most of our family members work in the frontline health sector so we are quite well aware of the pandemic and the messages," Mr Sebastian said.
"Our effort was to continue to deliver this message, to support the international students, and we hope to identify and provide support to individuals and families who are isolated because of the COVID-19 situation.
"We have been able to reach out to every individual in the community."
