Onam - My Onam

The word ONAM means Onam-Needed-Among-Malayalees. ONAM brings a lot of memories spanning from childhood days at different places.My grandfather was a farmer. He was involved in Rice cultivation and many more. ONAM is celebrated after the paddy harvesting. Lot of activities takes place in the court yard of my house in my native place. I am not allowed into these activities, but watch through the window. On the first chance I jump out and run towards the mountain of paddy and hay stack. I will be pulled out from there and 'placed' near the window again. The whole thing ends a few days before Onam when the workers are paid in Rice. The hay will be stacked round a pole and is used for feeding the cattle. Now I am allowed to go out. My OONJAL or Swing will be ready waiting for me in the branch of a Badam tree in front of my house. I will be allowed to use it if only some elders are there. The first ONAM is ‘Uthradam' is the time when snacks were made. A part of it will be kept for me and part will be hidden from me so that I won't finish it in one go. But I will find it out as well. I will be swinging on my OONJAL and occasionally race to the house to open the tins to get the snacks. My mother
and grand mother might think it a cat over the tins. In the evening a Lamp will be lit in front of the house to welcome Maveli. Thiruvonam is the day for feast ONASADHYA. Kitchen will be active early morning. I will sneak in to get bits of Coconut. By 11 Am I will go down to a river nearby and have a dip and swim in the river. Back home I will be putting on a new dress OnamKodi. The feast will be ready. My dad, Grandfather, sister and my self will be having the lunch in a Banana Leaf. After the lunch I am allowed to go out and play with neighborhood kids or watch a film with the big Cousins. In the evening I will be waiting for my Grandmother (Dad’s Mum) to turn up to see me. She comes with lot of things to eat. After Thiruvonam the major activity will be on the 4th ONAM Chathayam which ends with a procession. Sree Naryana Guru Jayanthi is also celebrated on this day.

With Changing times I moved to Trivandrum, The capital city. I used to visit native place during ONAM. With Rice farming not a profitable business the harvesting activates got reduced gradually. But My OONJAL will be there. ONAM was taken over by Clubs and political organizations. They arrange a lot of games and sports. I am allowed to take part. Now I being a city kid, the kids in my village was not that friendly anymore except a few. I have got prizes for Roti Kadi- Bread biting and Carom. The ONAM function ends with Prize distribution and a fight called Onathalle. Most of the activities take place in front of my house so I can watch these things from my home.

With my Grandfather no more with us, the Rice farming was not there anymore. The paddy fields were replaced with profitable banana farming. Onasadhaya was the only major function. In Trivandrum there is government sponsored ONAM functions. I come back from my native place to watch the ONAM Procession. It passes in front of my dad's office (Revenue Board), so I always get a vantage point to watch it.

During my High school days and Pre-university days, I celebrated ONAM at Trivandrum. It became more like watching films, an Onasadhya at home and 4th ONAM is celebrated at some friend’s place, Watching the illumination and ONAM Procession. I visit my native place to meet my grandmother and other relatives.

ONAM became more exciting during my College days. I and my friends took over the ONAM activities of my neighborhood. There will be Athapookalm Competition (Flower Arrangement) on Thiruvonam for each apartment block. For my Block I and my sister took over the organizing, designing and making of the Atham. On the Eve of Thiruvonam flowers will be bought and depending on the Design the petals will be removed. Early morning I will draw the design and the Girls there will put the flowers. By 12'o clock after the Onasadhya the winner will be named. In the evenings I and my friends will wander around Kanakakunnu palace grounds. The palace grounds will be colourful with people with all age group and a lot of variety entertainments. The whole thing gets over with a Float on the last day. ONAM changed from Traditional to Commercial.

The Other exciting aspect of the Onam during my Engineering days was the Inter-collegiate Athapookalam Competition. It was arranged by the College Union. We were there to watch the Girls from the Women's Colleges. Engineering college's Inter Branch Athapookalam Competition was also there. My class used to have 2 Teams. A genuine team other led by me to have a flower arrangement with a Comical theme. My team also gets a prize for innovative ideas. The Flower arrangement competition ends with an OnaThallu. The College closes for ONAM vacation.

Years went by now I celebrate Onam outside of Kerala (Marunadan Malayalee). In the Fast paced life in London Onam is another day at work. Probably on the weekend my wife will prepare all the traditional stuff and the Payasam.

2006 Onam we had an Onasadhaya arranged by a Malu association at Borehamhood. This is the real Onasadhaya, I had for a long time.
What I love the most of ONAM is that, this is the only festival celebrated by all Malayalees irrespective of Religion or Caste. Everybody celebrates within their limits. Maveli will be very happy to see his Praja still celebrating Onam