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The Illinois Malayali Association (IMA) is a non-profit organization devoted to the awareness and promotion of Malayali culture in Illinois. Dedicated Malayali families with a vision to bring together all Malayalees who migrated to Illinois founded the organization.

The association strives to preserve and promote Kerala culture, traditions, and heritage through various festivals and events organized throughout the year. The IMA conducts kid’s activities, an Onam festival, a Youth Festival, picnic, sports tournament, debate, chess competition, Gandhi Jayanthi, Independence Day, Mother’s Day, and Women’s/Youth forum activities. The Women’s forum is one of the most active branches of the association, and has a vibrant and enthusiastic group of women working behind it. This year, the IMA formed a Youth forum to bring youths together to foster their leadership skills, provide a sense of belonging, create social connectedness, learn the importance of helping, and improve the social-emotional well-being of the young Kerala community in Illinois.

The IMA also conducts charity events. The IMA has donated towards the COVID relief fund, flood relief fund, and the nursing students scholarships.

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Mission

The Illinois Malayali Association’s (IMA) mission is to accomplish personal connections and belonging among Malayali through collaboration, promotion of cultural heritage of Kerala by celebrating festivals, and a ways to provide its members (including women, youth, children, and senior citizens) a platform to socialize, share their talents, and promote positive social relations with other Malayalee organizations in Illinois.

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Vision

The Illinois Malayali Association’s (IMA) vision is to bring together all Malayalee families who migrated to the Illinois while celebrating all Malayalee and Indian festivities with the same cultural and traditional finesse of our motherland.

Kerala

Kerala, also known as God’s Own Country, is a small state located on the coast of southwest India. The state has an area of 38,863 km^2 and is bordered by Karnataka to the North and Northeast, Tamil Nadu to the East and South, and the Arabian Sea to the West. It was formed on November 1st, 1956. The language spoken is Malayalam. According to Hindu Mythology, Parasurama (an incarnation of Lord Vishnu), Lord Vishnu threw his axe to identify a land where people can live peacefully and happily. Traditionally, women in Kerala wear a saree and blouse, and men wear “mundu” .

The culture of Kerala is a combination of both Indian and Dravidian culture. The main Keralite performing arts are as follows: Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, and Martial Arts of Kalaripayattu. Kerala is famous for its ecotourism, beautiful backwaters, lush green tea plantations, and spice plantations. Kerala's climate is mainly wet and tropical while being influenced by the seasonal heavy rains brought up by the monsoons.