Another Onam goes by....

And it’s that time again. The time when the small state of Kerala rises as one to celebrate Onam – the return of King Maveli.

And here I am, thousands of kilometers from home, doing nothing but with memories of Onam long gone by.

Onam for me in school was always about exams and the vacations.  We used to wait eagerly for the last exam and then rush home. Grandpa, grandma, uncles, aunties n cousins, everyone was there.  It was about trying to get up early in the morning, gathering flowers, making pookalam, going to temples, pookalam competitions etc. And back then the biggest craze was getting the new dresses and wearing them.  Of course it has to happen with a beautiful sadhya. Looking back after all these years, it was pretty simple then but those were the best Onam I ever had. 

And then things started to change slowly. There were no new dresses or pookalam. Onam during college days in Bangalore was pretty much restricted to a sadhya. If we had one, then it made our day. Well it was not exactly a sadhya, a Kerala lunch at most. Onam was spent in the hostel rooms, making calls, writing exams, collecting whatever little money we could find and searching for a hotel anywhere from Kalasipalayam to Madiwala which would serve a sadya. Still remember one particular Onam when there was some holiday and we were unable to find a hotel that had sadhya. Wherever we went, it was over and finally we had to settle for a fish curry meals on Onam day. Then there was another Onam where one of the bikes got punctured and we had to push it all the way to mechanic.

Time moved on, got a job. Different places at different times. Mysore, Chennai, Mumbai and so on. In Mysore, we had a holiday but had to return next day.  One of my friends was going to Kannur by vehicle and me and another friend joined him. The journey was exciting. But the worst part was not having sadhya on Thiruonam. I had to start by noon that day and it was definitely a worst feeling. And in return journey we were chased by elephants!

  

In Chennai, it was always about trains. Trying to plan my holidays, booking train tickets in advance, cancelling them, rescheduling, waiting for special trains, booking tatkal tickets, trying to complete work before time, the Onam celebration in office, rushing to catch the suburban train to Chennai Central. And finally when the train starts there is a sense of calm, an excitement of what lies ahead.  As the train moves towards my home next morning, it always pleases me to watch the greenery, children getting ready with the pookalam, families going to temples. For a moment in that journey, I used to forget everything around and just enjoy the view  and the rhythmic sound of train.

And now here I am, when Kerala starts celebrating Onam, writing a blog in middle of night. I am still not sure what made me do it. As someone once said, the farther you are from something, the dearer it will become.

To all the Malayalees everywhere, have a great Onam. And may Maveli bless you all. :)