Expatriate collective unfolds grand plans for ‘Ezham Pooram’ alongside cultural fiesta ‘Eenam 2026’ in the UAE; new executive committee elected.
DUBAI: The vibrant cultural essence of Kerala’s iconic temple festival is set to take over the United Arab Emirates once again. ‘Mmade Thrissur Official’, a prominent collective of Thrissur expatriates in the UAE, has officially announced the dates for its highly anticipated 7th annual cultural carnival. Dubbed “Ezhnte Ezhunnallathu” (The Grand Procession of Seven), the ‘Mmade Thrissur Pooram 2026’ will be held on December 2, 2026. The announcement alongside the grand poster launch took place during the organization’s Annual General Body Meeting hosted at the Coral Dubai Deira Hotel.
Recreating the awe-inspiring grandeur and traditional elements of the original Thrissur Pooram, the collective has successfully managed to bring the festival to Gulf shores for the past six consecutive years. Organizers revealed that the 2026 edition—held in joint collaboration with Equity Plus and Hit FM—promises a completely refreshed array of cultural spectacles and unique events designed to captivate the vast Global Malayali community residing in the UAE.
As a prelude to the December mega-event, the organization will also host a mega musical night titled ‘Eenam 2026’ on September 27 this year. The official promotional posters for both ‘Eenam 2026’ and ‘Mmade Thrissur Pooram 2026’ were ceremonially unveiled during the general assembly, sparking immense enthusiasm among attendees.
The official session commenced under the presidency of Anoop Anildevan. General Secretary Sunil Alungal presented the comprehensive annual working report, while the financial statements were tabled by Treasurer Reshmi Rajesh. Reflecting on their growth, the committee outlined an expansive roadmap focusing on cultural heritage preservation, mega sports tournaments, and heavily active philanthropic initiatives spanning across Kerala and the GCC region in the coming years.
The assembly also served as a democratic platform to elect the incoming executive leadership for the 2026–2027 term. Anoop Anildevan was re-elected as President, while Sunil Alungal and Sajith Sreedharan were chosen to serve as General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
The extensive leadership team includes Sudheesh Kokkat (Senior Vice President), alongside Vice Presidents Shaheer, Anil Arangath, and Biju Bhaskar. The administrative roles will be supported by Joint Secretaries Manish Sadanandan, Vishnu Anand, and Roshan Vennikkal, alongside Joint Treasurers Rajesh Maarath, Ranjith Chandran, and Sushanth Surendran.
To streamline the sprawling scale of operations, dedicated wing heads were also designated: Shaju Pazhayattil (Events Convener), Sreelakshmi Raju (Art Secretary), Deepesh Andhezhathe (Sports Secretary), and Akbarsha (Welfare Secretary). Furthermore, the collective strengthened its institutional structure by appointing Adv. Bakker Ali as Legal Advisor, Ajay George as Media Convener, Mini Indukumar as Women’s Wing Convener, Agni Anil as Youth Wing Convener, and Anuja Nair as the Youth Ambassador, alongside a robust newly formed Executive Committee and Executive Development Committee.
The expatriate community from Thrissur in the UAE has built a solid reputation for replicating the cultural ethos of central Kerala abroad. Originating in Kerala, India, the traditional Thrissur Pooram is globally renowned for its magnificent elephant processions, traditional percussion ensembles (Melam), and competitive fireworks. Through annual diaspora celebrations like ‘Mmade Thrissur Pooram’, the Gulf Malayali community bridges the gap between home and their adopted land, preserving cultural roots for younger generations in the Middle East.
