Tamil Nadu   

A festival of flowers and feast

`Decorating homes to greet their great ruler'

Yet another Onam has come. So, it's celebration time for the 150-odd Malayali families in the port town of Tuticorin, bringing in the memories of King Mahabali, whose rule was marked by honesty and prosperity.

According to the legend King Mahabali will visit the earth at the time of Onam to see the Malayalis, who were once ruled by him.

As a mark of respect for the great ruler, Malayalismake fabulous arrangements, which include creation of `Pookalam' (traditional floral decorations on the floor) and grand feast to accord a warm reception to him.

Though away from their native boroughs and hamlets, most of the Malayalis in Tuticorin seem to have retained the zest for celebrations amidst their busy schedules.

Ramesh Nair, General Manager (Operations), Sterilite Industries Limited, says Onam for him and his family this year will be confined to the house owing to children's examination schedule.

"We want to go to our parents' house in Kochi but for the exams."

"Anyhow me and my wife, Bhavana, along with our children, will prepare a delicious `sadhya' (feast) on Thiruonam day (September 15), similar to the ones prepared by our parents back in Kerala," he adds.

S.V. Chandran, a businessman and vice-president of Builders Association of Tuticorin, too finds time short to go outside Tuticorin town during Onam.

"Despite tight official commitments, me along with my wife, Bhargavi, and children, Jinu Mohan and Jeeth Mohan, have started preparations to celebrate Onam in a fabulous way within our household," he says.

"We will make spicy `payasams' along with the meals and mouth-watering side-dishes, and of course, we will not forget to wear new dresses, sticking to Kerala traditions," adds Mr. Chandran.

To make the Onam attractive, Chandran and his family had put up swings (Oonjal) in front of their house, taking the visitors down memory lane.

Exchanging greetings

over telephone

R. Radhakrishnan, secretary, Kerala Samajam, Tuticorin chapter, has this to say about `Onams' during his 12 years of stay in the town. "Most of the time, celebrations end with a feast and exchange of greetings over the phone, as children's exams come during Onam time."

A native of Mavelikara in Alapuzha district of Kerala, Mr. Radhakrishnan becomes nostalgic when he views the celebrations back home through the idiot box (television).

"Really I miss the boat races at Aranmula, native town of my wife, Ani, and the floral decorations which used to adorn the verandas in our houses," he says.

For Abdul Nazim, airport-in-charge, Tuticorin airport, Onam is the time to take a mandatory trip to Thiruvananthapuram, birth town, to plunge into the celebrations there.

"I can not imagine missing the flower show, illumination and the procession that takes place year after year at Thiruvananthapuram as part of the celebrations," he says and adds, "this year I am taking two of the local friends here to my native to help' them enjoy the celebrations there."

Celebrations of

Kerala Samajam

The Onam celebrations of Kerala Samajam is scheduled for the second week of October, once the parents are free from the hassles of their children's exams.

R. Vimal Kumar

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