Onam musings
Keralites all over the world celebrate Onam, the festival of prosperity, without the restrictions of class or caste. Six women from the entertainment world share with Future Woman their Onam memories and plans for this Onam
I hope and pray for a great Onam this time also. My Onam celebrations are with my family. I think childhood is the time when we enjoy the most. My memorable Onam was during those days, when my cousins and other family members come home to celebrate Onam with us. I remember the myth about welcoming Maveli , The new clothes, floral decorations and the special dishes, all are in my memory. We also decorate the path towards home with ‘thumbapoovu’ to welcome the great king home. Those days I blindly believed that Maveli would come home to enjoy those delicious dishes with us. It was years later that I came to know that Maveli was only a mythological ruler who ruled Kerala, in whose memory we celebrate Onam. However, I miss the feeling of togetherness during those days awhen all our family members come home. Now they all are away in different places. After my marriage I used to celebrate it with my husband’s family and after the celebrations there, we go to my home and celebrate Oaam with my family members.
Devika Mukesh, dancer
What I like about Onam the most is the togetherness during those days. I still remember my childhood days, when we were in Dubai. We used to wait for Onam to come as it is the time we used to come to Kerala. Those days, our Onam celebrations and exams start on the same day and our minds were occupied with thoughts of Onam celebration in Kerala. At that time, all used to gather at our home, not only relatives, even our neighbours used to be with us. It was a great celebration, but as time passed on. there came changes in everyone’s attitude towards such happy occasions. Today Onam means only ‘Onakodi’ and ‘Onasadhya’. ‘Onakalikal’, which were the most awaited thing to do during Onam in my childhood days, are no more. Nowadays, kids don’t even know the names of those games. We should make them know about these games and bring back those old glory of Onam celebrations.
Mridula Warrior, Playback singer
I wish to celebrate this Onam with my family as usual. Usually I don’t book any programmes during those days. I cherish each and every moment that I spend with my family. Festival days like Onam Vishu and all others are close to my heart. I have not planned anything special for this Onam, but wish to be with my family members as they are the ones who take pain for me and inspiration behind all the success in my life that I have achieved.
Renjini Haridas, Television anchor
My childhood Onam celebration was very much related to my school ‘Pookalam competition’, and ‘Thiruvathira competition’. Above all,we were given permission to put on colour dresses. But my celebrations to the fullest happened after being part of television channels. We start the celebrations a month before . We will have skits, acts and dance performances. Due to busy schedules, Onam at home is less, I think more than we in Kerala, it is those who stay abroad take more efforts to celebrate Onam. We should congratulate the Malayalee associations all over the world for taking our tradition to every nook and corner.
Aparna Nair, actress
To me, every Onam is special. My Onam days will be most probably at my ancestral home. I try not to miss the celebration. I missed one Onam in my life as I was away and was not able to reach home on that day. I still regret. In fact, I celebrate two Onams every year. Half of the day will be spent at my father’s home and in the afternoon, we move to mother’s house for another round of celebration. I try my maximum to avoid other engagements. My very special Onam was in 2007, as my film Nivedhyam was released during Onam. It was a lucky year for me. That Onam was indeed different from others.
Lena, actress
All my Onam celebrations until I aged 12 were very colourful . We were in the North East those days and used to come to Kerala to celebrate Onam at my father’s house at Vadakkanchery. Those days I used to think that all days in Kerala were the same like Onam, with full celebrations. Now Onam is very drab, everything has become readymade. Celebrations now end up in Whatsapp and Facebook.Related Stories
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