Happy Onam.... In the Past ...autobiography
Onam is a celebration of happiness proseperity. Freed from our first term exam ends, which usually takes place just before Onam time. Kannan, Babu and Me were close friends, studied together from Kalari to standard 7. (kalari- a Kerala model of education for kids of kindergarten age—almost extinguished now.) What I am mentioning here is of my life at a childhood at the age of 8-9 yrs.
If you read ‘God of Small Things’ my village is also same except lakes or rivers. We have small hills which create narrow valley’s leading to wide area, every ones farm is filled with coconut trees, pepper plants, and many other small crops like ginger, elephant foot etc. Every house is a small one and medium rich people are having tiled roof houses and others have huts. The belief behind Onam is the wait of People to welcome the visit of Mahabali a King ruled Kerala (in myths). To remember the good times that the subjects had during his rule.
When Onam comes, it is comparatively a free time for our parents, who are free from agricultural work. Paddy fields in full green, lot of flowers every where such as Kongini, Thumba, Jamanthi, Kolambi poo, Sanghu pushpam, Chethi, Daliya, Bolse (local name) etc. Other than these varieties of Roses and Jasmines. Every place is having small arts and sports clubs and they organize competitions such as Pookalam –Flower Decorations in Floor, Mimicri, Singing, Elocution, and sports items like race, race in sacks, spoon race, needle and thread, breaking pots, etc. Tug of War is the Glamourous of all these. This is the only occasion many such clubs offer free Kheer.
Kannan had three elder sisters, Babu had one elder sister and one younger brother. Myself one younger brother. Kannan is the richest person in our group as his father is having a super market (it is a small shop with paan, beedi, cigarette, magazines (Mangalam, Manorama, Mathrubhumi Weekly, Cinema Magazines and Balarama, Balamangalam, Amarchitrakatha, etc.). His sisters are very beautiful and smart and known for singing and dances. Kannan is also having Nanna and Naani (grand mom and grandpa). Babu is from a moderate background and his elder sister is of same age as of the second elder sister of Kannan. They are staying in the same compound and my house is 10 mns. walkable distance. Comparing to Kannan and Babu I got less freedom and pocket money as my parents were really struggling to meet both ends in the life.
The day of Atham (10 days prior to Onam, the preparation starts. Along with Kannan’s sisters, me Babu, His younger brother, and sister, and a small battalion of kids in that area, start moving from one field to another field to collect flowers. Flowers are collected on area wise as we have to collect for ten days. In the beginning the frontage of home is cleaned with cowdung and then Puttumannu (the fort of ants Light red colour) create different levels. Some places it is of one level and other places it goes up to 10 floors indicating ten days of Onam. By evening we come back home. My job was to help Kannan and Babu as in my home Pookalam was not prepared and my parents had no interest or time to do that. When I reach their home next day pookalams would be done or finishing stage.
The 10th Day when Onam reaches home, usually my parents never allow me to go out of home as it is felt inferior to go others places on a festival day. But skipping my parents eye I used to visit Kannans House. There was a festive environment in Kanna’s Home. Every one in Kannan’s home have new dress, their sisters decorate the Pookalam with the best possible designs and flowers, lot of noise in kitchen and fragrance of sambhar and other preparations tempt to you. Kannan’s and Babus’s relative gather their home and the environment is fully festive and noisy.
The Lunch (Onasadya) is very prestigious for the family as this indicates the skill of the homemistress in cooking. Various dishes like Upperi(Banana Fried and mixed with Jagarry and Spices) , Banana Chips, Pulissery—(prepared in Thick Curd and Gard-Appears white in colour and one of the best tastes of Kerala), Erissery (forgot—how it is prepared), Inchi Curry(Curry dark in appearance made of Ginger and Tamarind—Really hot takes only small qty.) Kalan (Made of Loose form of Curd and Banana pieces), Olan (made of Pumpkin), (Kootukari –Made of Elephant Foot = sooran in Hindi, and pea, Thoran =dry curry, made of any one or two varieties of vaegitables, Avial—Mix of all vegitable, Parippu Curry, Sambhar, two or three varieties of Kheer Known as Prathaman, Pappadam etc. The whole days effort come to a halt for female members once the lunch is finished. During the lunch time all members in the family sit down in the floor start the luncheon. The end of the dish is with Kheers and by the time there wont be any space in the stomach.
Though they force me to take Lunch with me but due to fear from parents, after taking a glass of Kheer and I used to ran away. After lunch I visit their home once gain to start playing different sports activities like Akku, Masam and Kota, Kili, Kabbadi etc.. (all these have disappeared from even rural area. Akku and Masam are normally a female game, but Kili and Kota are a crude form of Kabbadi.
After a small break afternoon games start at nearby clubs. Various competitions mark the day and evening it is the time for elders (males) in the family to celebrate the Onam with drinks…
Kannan’s sisters were married , and Babu’s sister is also got married. Kannan and Babu are now married and their life is also circle around the their small houses.
Year after year there was a sharp decline in the preparations and gathering in Kannans Home due to many reasons mainly because decrease in the prices of crops. Our life was completely depending on Black Pepper produce and once it goes down there is no other hope. Pookalams disappeared from homes, and Flower collection become a history as there were no one really interested to do this.
Gradually Onam Kits were made available in the market and it reduced the efforts of mistresses in home. Onam is a festival now celebrated in T V Channels, or Kerala Tourism or Beverage Corporation of Kerala. The sale of Liqour in Kerala yesterday crossed 30 crores. It is exactly like a competition which checks the sale of liquor, Sales in Textile shops, jewelleries, etc. What an Irony. Families turned out to nuclear, festivals area an occasion to relax in home, self centered life.
Let us Try --Ona sadya (lunch with 11 dishes)
(Picture Cource: Google images)