Every passing year that you spend away from your hometown you start missing it less and less Onam is also no different for me. The other day I was doing some shopping here in Mumbai for vegetables among other things for the upcoming Onasadya(a traditional malayali feast on a banana leaf) on Thiruonam(Main Onam day). It was reminiscent of my days in Thiruvanathapuram when we used to go to Chala Market or Palayam market(something like Dadar) to do the Onam shopping. The hustle and bustle during the entire process would leave you totally drained out, it is like shop till you drop where you shop for vegetables and other items for the sadya during Onam days. The irony today is that I need to purchase a banana leaf from a shop which I would have taken from my backyard if I was at home. The extravagant Onasadya which included 28 dishes and 3 different Payasams (a form of dessert) at my home served on Thiruonam day is mouth-watering. Not only the Onasadya but rather the entire process in totality ie the preparations and the run up to Thiruonam day is something truly amazing.
But whatever it is the best onam celebration that I have had
was during my Engineering college days. The Onam celebrations at college were in a league
of its own. Every year the college union would make sure that it was better
then the previuos one. The main event of the day would be the Pookalam
competition (a carpet of flowers made up in a particular design on the floor
similar to a Rangoli) . The first step would be the finalising of the design
for the Pookalam the next step is the procuring of Flowers from the Chala market
, we guys go there a day or two before
the designated date and make arrangements for procuring the required flowers.
It is not easy as it sounds it includes walking the length and breadth of the
market to look for a place which will give us the best quality of flowers at
the best price.
On the D day the classroom would be a beehive of activity .All sorts of things would be going on ranging from the cleaning of the class to the clearing of Bench and desks drawing of the blueprint(courtesy the artists from our class) getting the flowers ready and so on . The beauty of it is everyone chips in with something or the other. If my memory serves me right we have never won the competition but its been a wonderful experience all along . The joy is in participating I remember during our first year it was the through the Onam day celebrations that we got to know each other. The camaraderie and the bonhomie in the class is worth mentioning here the entire class works like a single body and a single mind. Now when I look back all those memories evokes nostalgia in me. Most often than not I would be at the helm when it comes to the organisation of these events and believe me guys the experiences that I had is something that I would cherish forever in my life .I miss wearing the Mundu (traditional attire for men in Kerala similar to a dhoti) its been quite some time since I have worn one . On the day of the Onam celebrations the girls turn up in Sarees and the guys in Mundu the entire class makes up for a wonderful collage.
I guess my Onam memories revolve around my college, moving on let me describe how my City Thiruvananthapuram celebrates the festival. The week before the festival the entire city would be bustling with people who are engaged in Onam shopping. The main commercial centres of East Fort , chala etc are jam-packed. It is a known fact that it is during the Onam season that the maximum shopping takes place in Kerala during the entire year. And because of this all the commercial establishments are competing with each other for giving offers to the consumers . The run up to the festival is huge but the best is saved till the days of Onam. The entire city will be lit up every other building including the Secretariat and the Legislative assembly. There would be cultural programs in different locations in the city. Notable ones is the fair at Kanakunnu palace and at East fort(similar to the Bandra fair in Mumbai). The entire city would bear a festive mood. Another important event is the colourful procession with Chendamelam (a percussion instrument),Pulikalli (tiger dance), colourful tableaus(similar to the ones in Republic Day Parade) through the busy MG road during one of these days During the days of Onam in the main city the general public would be mostly on the streets especially after 6 PM you can see the city transform like anything.
Whatever I have
described here are the experiences that I had during the Onam season in Thiruvananthapuram.
Things might not be the same nowadays since I have not been in Kerala during
the Onam festival for the past 6 years. I have stayed in different cities in India and
have witnessed different festivals in all their spirit and grandeur, each one
is unique in its own way. But I have got
to say this, the city of Thiruvananthapuram and its Onam celebrations will always
have a special place in my heart. I guess it might be because I have spent a
good part of my life there.
Once I had left Thiruvananthapuram the Onam celebration have been mostly silent for me. One memorable Onam was in Delhi where I had gone to Kerala House for an Onasadya with my malyali friends we had a whale of a time over there since it was the first time in months that we had tasted Kerala food . During the initial years I would be longing to go back to my hometown during Onam. But as I mentioned earlier as years pass you tend to learn to adjust to it among many things. Still at times I miss being in my hometown during Onam. This Onam would be no different for me as I will be in office on Thiruonam day as usual. Maybe I’ll take a half day leave and go home for the Onasadya that my Mom is preparing. I guess you can take the Malayali out of Kerala but never the 'Malayali'ness out of one.
