Lucknow: Traditional folk dances and energetic Bollywood performances brought together the colours and youthful spirit of Onam at Ravindralaya on Sunday.Organised by Kerala Samajam, the event began with Guru Vandana, a salutation to the guiding light of knowledge.The mood then shifted from folk to contemporary flair as young participants danced their hearts out to trending songs, delivering freestyle Bollywood performances.Further, the stage traded Bollywood beats for Kerala’s graceful rhythms as women from the Malayali Association presented Thiruvathirakali, a traditional group dance, following months of practice.The grand welcome of Mahabali was followed by ‘Pulikali’, an Onam folk performance depicting a spirited tiger hunt, with young boys dressed as tigers bringing the vibrant tradition to life.As Onam celebrates growth, meritorious children of life members who excelled in Class X and XII board exams were felicitated with annual scholarships, recognising their hard work and achievements, which President Jenson James said was a deserving gift for their dedication.“Our roots should always be held with respect,” said IPS Prakash D, who was the guest of honour, along with Shree Satyendra Bari, Member of State Commission for Backward Classes and Rev Fr Jaison. IPS officer Vaibhav Saxena was also present as chief guest.