It’s Atham, the first day of the ten-day Onam celebrations today. Traditionally it is believed to be the day Mahabali begins his preparations to visit his subjects. And in a frenzy to welcome their king, the whole state erupts in high-spirited fervour. Earthern mounds called ‘thrikkakarayappan’, made the previous years are taken out from the dusty corners of the house. Children roam around plucking flowers, making floral carpets, tying swings in the backyard, ladies prepare lipsmacking Onasadhya. The endless celebrations last for ten days. All these customs prevailed in the good old days and much of it is still followed in the villages.
In Kochi too, Onam is the grandest festival of the year. However, with our lifestyles turning more hectic, some change has come in the way Onam is celebrated at households. Here’s finding out how
As it turns out, Onam appears to be a two-three days sabbatical from the busy schedule for Kochiites. The term ‘instant’ can be tagged to the celebrations, as everything from flowers to payasams to sadhya are bought from the market. Various hotels and organisations are arranging a series of cultural activities across the city, but for youngsters in Kochi, the festive shopping fever, and the new movie releases on television seem to be the only attractions.
But the older generation is still nostalgic about Onam. “The memories of the past still linger in my mind. During my childhood days, we used to prepare for the festival with much zest,” remembers Indira, a bank employee from Kaloor. She says, “It is sad that we don’t get time to welcome Onam in the same traditional way anymore. There are payasa melas all around, from where we buy payasams on Thiruvonam. Usually this is always made at home, not anymore. Also, ‘Pookalam’ is now put only on Thiruvonam. Visiting the elders of the house is the only customary activity during Onam that still survives.”
However, there is a welcome trend where the festival is jointly celebrated in a splendid way by colony members of flats. Sindhu George, an inmate of the Garden Gate Apartment, Kadavanthra says, “I have been staying in the apartment for the last six years and we celebrate every festival together. This year, we have ‘thiruvathira’, ‘vanjippaattu’, ‘Onasadhya’ and we will also be conducting competitions like ‘tug of war’, ‘Uriyadi’. Since we live like an extended family here, festivals like Onam serve as an occasion for get-togethers and great merriment.”
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