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For the people, by the people

Onam celebrations are in full swing in the city, writes JAYA SMITHA MENON

PHOTO: C. RATHEESH KUMAR

SWINGING TIME Girls dressed in their Onam best celebrate Onam

It is celebrations galore for Onam. Ensuring that no house is untouched by the spirit of Onam are various residents' associations in the city.

Cultural gatherings, get-togethers, Atthapoo competitions, members dressed as Mahabali, distribution of payasam, Thiruvathirakali, Ona sadhya and even Kathakali ... The week is packed with activities to enable each resident to make the most of this harvest festival of Kerala.

The many associations under FRAT, which is divided into 23 zones, plan to make it an Onam to cherish for each person.

Wide range of programmes

Bhaskara Panickar, president of Federation of Residents' association(FRAT) confirms that many of the residents' associations in the city are gearing up to celebrate Onam with a wide range of programmes. Office-bearers of FRAT have received invitations from more than 200 associations in the city to participate in their Onam celebrations, he adds.

With almost all schools and colleges in the city closing on Friday for the 10-day Onam break, many students are brushing up their artistic skills and fine tuning their repertoire of songs to participate in the Athapoo competitions and cultural gatherings in the city.

Venues reverberate with the sounds of young girls practising Onapattu, `Kaikotikali' and other dance items. In addition to keeping the traditions alive, these celebrations give an opportunity for better interaction between the members of the associations.

"We are planning to make palpayasam and distribute it to the members. Some of us plan to get together in my house and make the paysam," says Meena, a member of Kochar Road Residents' Association (KRRA). On the day of Uthraddom (September 4), members of Easwaravilasom Residents' Association and KRRA have planned to dress up one of their members as Maveli.

Madhavan Nair, president of KRRA, says, "It's a practice that we have been following every year. Mahabali goes to each house, greets every family and distributes sweets. It is a small endeavour to revive golden memories of Onam as well as to preserve the spirit of Onam."

Rummaging through traditions and customs, each association tries to come up with something different.

For instance, Althara Nagar Residents' Association plan to conduct a demonstration of Kalaripayattu. This performance had won them accolades and they had presented it at Nishagandhi auditorium during Tourism Week last year.

Valiyasala Residents' Association has planned an Athapookalam competition.

"A pookalam in front of every house. The best one will fetch a prize. What better way to spread the spirit of Onam in every house?" says Balakrishna Pillai, president of zone 9 association. These community celebrations come as a boon to senior citizens whose children live abroad or in other parts of India.

Jagathy Sivan Thampi, public relations officer of FRAT, points out that the celebrations encourage budding talents in the associations.

Sponsored programmes

Many sponsors come forward to give prizes to the best Atthapookalam made by the various resident's associations and also organise games like Kabbadi and tug of war.

P. Narayana Pillay, secretary of the Udarasiromani Road Residents' Association says, "These community gatherings celebrate the true spirit of Onam.

It brings together people, irrespective of religion, region or caste. Even newcomers to the State feel at home and are able to enjoy Onam."

However, Bhagavathy Marthandom says that she still misses the Onam celebrations in the past.

"Now teenagers are more into their studies, career and so on. They are reluctant to participate in the festivities and prefer to remain in front of the television."

Much hue and cry has been made about the commercialisation of the festival. But thanks to the efforts of the residents' associations and other community organisations, the spirit of the festival is kept alive, albeit in a contemporary manner.

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