Report by Sageer Trikarpur

• KKMA Eid Milan unites Indian Muslims in the Gulf state

Kuwait, Oct 21:  As Muslims the world over celebrated the Eid-ul-Fitr festival, marking the end of the month-long Ramadan fasting, a large number of Indians in Kuwait celebrated Eid with festivity and multi-cultural, family-oriented programs. 

The annual mega event, hosted by Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), deservingly deemed as the meeting point of Indians in Kuwait, was attended by more than ten thousand people.

Inaugurating the event, Ambassador of India M Ganapathi extended his warm greetings to the Indian community in Kuwait.  He mentioned that after the holy month of Ramadan, it was a time for each and everyone to come out of introspection and see what one could do for humanity and for the general human good.  As the human being emerges from a month of rigorous fasting and self-discovery, the occasion of Eid allows one to enjoy the finer aspects of common bonding trough meeting friends and family.  Thus, the organization of Eid Milan of KKMA was appropriate and timely, he said.

He lauded the leadership of KKMA in the establishment of the charitable kidney dialysis centres in Kerala State of India. Sageer Trikarpur, the chairman of the association presided over the function.  He explained that this particular event was conducted to gain support for establishing a chain of non-profit kidney dialysis centres in Kerala. 

Mohammed Ghareeb Hatem, corporate relations manager of Equate Petrochemical Company, who spoke on the occasion, hailed the Indo-Kuwait relation, which he prayed would continue stronger in the years to come.  He also commended the organizers for conducting such a large function.

KKMA patron K Siddikh, UAE Exchange Company manager K N Das, Kuwait Indian School principal Mukherji Desmukh, KUwait Times' Malayalam section editor Moosa Koya, community leaders John Mathew, S A Labba, Thomas Kadavil and others also graced the dais and felicitated the function. 

A colourful souvenir brought out to commemorate the event was released by Dr Mrs Hind Al Qutaimi, director of Kuwait Indian school and received by Gulf Mart manager Ramesh P A and Rafeek jointly.

Earlier KKMA president N A Muneer welcomed the audience and thanked the Indian community in Kuwait for their generosity and support. 

'The Malabar food fest' displaying culinary talent and artistry of Indian ladies in Kuwait, conducted as part of Eid Milan was inaugurated by Dr Hind Al Qutaimi, director of Kuwait Indian School. 

A musical programme presented by up-and-coming singers Dr Fahad Mohammad and Mohammad Fahed, enthralled the audience, giving them a feeling of nostalgia. The programme comprised of Mappila songs, an Indian-originated musical form of Muslims, Hindi songs sung by the late Mohammed Rafi and hit numbers from Malayalam songs. 

An Eid bazaar comprised of various sales stalls and kids zone for various games for small children formed part of Eid Milan and was attended and enjoyed by several thousands of Indians. 

The programme, sponsored by Zain, UAE Exchange Company, City Centre, Gulf Mart, Apsara Bazar, Eastern Curry Powder and Oriental Restaurant, was deftly compered by KKMA general secretary Abdul Fatah Thayyil. Organizing secretary A P Abdul Salam proposed a vote of thanks.

KKMA’s Malabar Food Fest and Cooking Contest

• Gracy Saju wins Dish of the Day Award

By Sageer Trikarpur

Kuwait: The Malabar Food Fest and Cooking Competition, organized by Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA) a social welfare organization of Indians in Kuwait, attracted large number of participants.  The contest with an aim to identify the best culinary talent amongst the Indian families in Kuwait was held as part of Eid Milan activities at Kuwait Indian School in Jleeb. 

M Ganapathi, the Ambassador of India to Kuwait, was the chief guest.  He inaugurated the Eid Milan programme attended by several thousands of Indians in Kuwait at Kuwait Indian School in Jleeb. 

Dr Hind Al Qutaimi, the director of Kuwait Indian School, opened the Malabar Food Fest and Cooking Contest.  The contestants were mostly housewives of expatriates from various states of India. A total 240 items were brought to contest by 143 participants.

Contest was held in 5 categories, namely Rice Biriyani (Veg or Non Vegetarian), Curry items, Desserts and confectionery or baked items (traditional snacks, hot or sweet items) and low-fat and low-calorie diet food.

Swaying the judges with her excellent cooking skills and wonderful presentation, Grace Saju won the ‘dish of the day’ prize for her curry item. Grace also won first prize in the biriyani contest.

Winners in the order of first, second and third:  Biryani – Gracy Saju, Farzeena Naushad, Nafeesath Muneer; Curry items – Gracy Saju, Dr Ruksana Hameed, Chitra Sunil Kumar; Desserts – Latha David, Sumayya Shukoor, Arifa Abdul Fatah; Snacks – Shareefa Siddikh, Mariyakutty Basheer, Laila Abdulaziz; Diet food – Seneeba Abdul Gafoor, Sunita Val, Gracy Saju.

Following contestants won consoloation prizes.  Abi Sathar Kunnil, Asma Abdulla, Babitha Shetty, Jumana Haris, Karthika D.Shetty, Prathibha Venkat, Rasiya Hamsa, Rasiya Latheef, Rukiya Aboobacker, Sajitha Nazeer, Sanmathi Menda, Shahida Ibrahim, Shalini Alva , Suraya Ali Matra, Tahira Basheer Ameth, Zeenath Shamsudheen (Farwaniya).

The entries were judged by a five-member panel of judges headed by Eby Joseph, for originality, creativity and taste and aroma.  Eby Joseph, well-known for his TV programme 'Cooking with Eby', is an executive chef at Safir International Hotel.  Thasni Amir Ahamed, Sujan Panicker, Thomas Kadavil and Jaya Abraham were the members of the evaluation panel. The judges emphasized that their job was extremely difficult, and they were delighted by the quality, combinations, and rich flavors, along with the diversity of entries, making their judging even more challenging. 

“The variety of entries received satisfies our objectives of organizing this contest that to promote culinary talent among Indian women in Kuwait,” said N A Muneer who welcomed the delighted audience to the show.  

“Despite the contest being held on the day of Eid Al Fitr, the enthusiasm and dedication that our women folks brought to the KKMA Cooking Contest this year was unparalleled," said Sageer Trikarpur, chairman of KKMA and the co-director of cooking contest. 

The chief guests along with sponsor representatives KNS Das (UAE Exchange Center), Ramesh PA (Gulf Mart), Rafeek KS. (City Centre), Satish Chandra Shetty (Oriental Restaurant), Apsara Mahmoud (Apsara Bazar), Jaber Saidik (Eastern Curry Powder) and KKMA chief patron K. Siddikh and officials Akbar Siddique, Ali Matra, Abdul Fatah Thayyil, Ibrahim Kunnil and AP Abdul Slam distributed prizes for the winners. 

In the end, guests and participants took the opportunity to sample the dishes prepared by the contestants after the contest results had been announced besides asking questions.