Happy Onam!

Nothing quite says 'Malayali' like the excitement for Onam and the festivities connected with it. Being a Malayali, I too get excited for Onam every year.

Onam involves a myriad of unique and vibrant festivities. But Onam at home has always come with its own set of usual ceremonies. Each day of Onam would begin with the frenzy about making the most colourful Pookkalam possible. Brother and I would pluck flowers, spend an hour or so deliberating on unique Pookalam designs and invariably end up fighting over something or the other. Mother would take me for her usual Onam shopping and  hop between each and every Onam sale/exhibition/market that would open up. Father would buy fresh flowers from the market and take photos of the Pookkalams that Brother and I would manage to create despite our fight. And as a family, we would also patiently watch the new movies played on Asianet, Surya etc. while savouring our Onam sadya and payasam like any other Malayali family.

For the last two years, however, Onam celebrations only meant grabbing that one Malayali colleague of mine or Naveena (whoever would be in closer proximity) to find and dine at the nearest Kerala restaurant, reminiscing about all the Onams I had celebrated in Kerala while having the expensive (but delicious, nonetheless) sadya at the restaurant, and sending Onam greetings to all and sundry without fail. If a non-Malayali friend wished me a 'Happy Onam', that would make my Onam in Mumbai. 

For I shouldn't forget, last Onam was also preceded by the sadness and helpless anxiety of seeing my homeland drown in what then seemed to an unending flood and frequent phone calls made to friends and family in Kerala. 

But now that I am finally back home, I am beyond excited for this year's Onam and all the zest and cheer it entails!

The real Onam message. 

Now, before I end this silly zappy post, Happy Onam, everyone!