“Wherever a Malayalee is, he will celebrate Onam,” says Abraham Mathew, Manager of East Cultural Association, Indiranagar. And thus, into the neon-lit blur of the City, come seeping the vibrant, distinct celebrations of a rural past. Bangalore, like any other city, creates spaces for the entire ritualistic fanfare of this harvest festival to unfold.
From pookkalams to ona sadyas, from kaikottikkali to banana chips, the packaged culture is available here. There is something for everyone: for the ones who prefer to have it handed out on a platter, there are the hotels taking care of every bit of the requirement.
For those who like to celebrate it every inch themselves, the establishments doling out the ‘original’ have opened their arms.
Vijayam M, a housewife, is not quite convinced. “The true spirit of Onam is seen only in Kerala, in our homes. Because the children do not get leave, we cannot go home. So all we do is make the sadya and resume our daily routine.”
For many, however, the festival is all about creating the feel of being at home. K C Rajan, General Secretary of Sree Narayana Samithi, Ulsoor, sees no dearth of this enthusiasm. For 10 years, the Samithi has been organising Ona Chantha (Onam market) for four days till before Thiruvonam (the festival lasts for 10 days starting with Atham and culminating with Thiruvonam).
“We opened on Thursday. The response so far has been good. It remains constant every year,” says Rajan. The markets have all the typical Kerala items — nenthra pazham (banana) from Thrissur to chips from Palakkad — available at nominal rates.
Cultural associations across the City are on their part organising events to keep the younger generation clued into some art forms that now find place only in organised programmes. Says Mathew, “Onam celebration is the flagship of our association. And lined up for this time’s celebration are pookkalam competitions, exhibition stalls, gaanamela (light/film music programme), and even performances of ottam thullal and thalappoli melam.”
And so the subjects of Mahabali, the erstwhile demon king of Kerala, will make sure that when he makes his visit (his sojourn is celebrated as Onam), he will find that the celebrations are still very much on.