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Onam flavour
`Onam Sadhya'
COME SEPTEMBER and it is a time of golden yellow leaves, and the cool autumn breeze. And in god's own country it is celebration time. We all know that in verdant Kerala, people are getting ready to welcome the legendary king Mahabali, through the festival of Onam. So what does garden city have to do with the celebration?
Well apart from the fact that there are plenty of Malayalis in the "cosmopolitan" Namma Bengaluru, it is boom time for the upmarket hotels in Bangalore who need an excuse for a food festival.
Festivities in the urban milieu these days mean a boost for greeting card companies and gift shops that promote their wares on every possible occasion they can think of. In the same way, restaurants in the city seem to "gear up" for all occasions be it Diwali or the Chinese New Year.
Onam is no different. Onam festivities and Kerala food festivals have been planned in many eating joints in the city, complete with an elaborate "Onam Sadhya" (the traditional vegetarian feast). Anyway, not that many Malayalees will step out of their homes for eating out on a festival day, when there might be a delicious "sadhya" indoors. For homesick Keralites who are not so lucky and who can afford an exorbitant Kerala feast in one of the many restaurants here, this might be an option.
Talking of eating places, the seafood restaurant, Coconut Grove will celebrate Onam food festival on Monday at its outlets in Church Street, Koramangala, and the new one at Marathahalli.
The "sadhya" will feature 34 exclusive Kerala food delicacies as part of the vegetarian buffet, including avial, kalan, olan, ulli theeyal, and sweet dishes.
At Karavalli, the Malabar restaurant at Gateway Hotel on Residency Road, Thiru Onam "Sadhya" will be the order of the day on Monday between 12.30 p.m. and 3.30 p.m.
Apart from the delicacies such as erussery, kootu curry, palada pradhaman, and pal payasam, there will be traditional decorations and music.
The Kerala food festival at Le Jardin, Oberoi Hotel, is currently on and will culminate with the Onam "Sadhya" on Sunday and Monday.
Mohiniattam performances, Thiruvathira music, and Pookkalam are the highlights of the festival in addition to the traditional feast for dinner.
By Sahana Charan
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Life
Bangalore
Chennai
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
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