CHANDIGARH: The
Onam festival, which will be celebrated on Monday, will be a low key affair this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. There will be no community gatherings and feasts this year. Onam feast by various South Indian organisations in the Tricity, which was a regular feature for the last 40 years, has also been cancelled this year.
Rajeev Kumar, president of the Sree Ayappa Samajam, Chandigarh, said, “Every year, celebrations start 10 days before Onam. We used to make Athappookkalam (floral decoration) for 10 days in front of our houses and temples. Various cultural programmes and get-togethers were done. Scrumptious food was made on the day. Thiruvathira dance by young women added colours to the celebrations. Everything will be missed this year.”
Onam is the most awaited festival celebrated by the Malayalee community, which has more than 5,000 residents in the Tricity. Onam is considered as the secular festival celebrated by everyone irrespective of caste, religion and communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, who visits the state on the day of Onam.
Talking about the festival, Benny Thomas, chairman of the Confederation of Keralites organization, Chandigarh, said, “Due to the pandemic, the festival celebration this year has been confined to households only. There shall be not celebrations inviting public in the Tricity by any organisation.”
“Onasadhya or onamsadya (the meal- lunch) is the most favourite and delicious part of the Onam festival. It is considered to be the most elaborate and grand meal prepared for any festival in the world. There are 11 essential dishes for Onasadya. Number of dishes may go up. Earlier, Onasaya used to be even more elaborate than depicted above. There were about 64 mandatory dishes,” said Thomas.
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