Reimagining Onam: The Festival of Unity and Joy

Bengalureans embraced the festive spirit, reviving folk traditions for the modern world and savouring the Onam SadyaOnam vibes linger in apartments across the city, even a day after Thiruvonam, the most significant day of the festival. Watercooler conversations in IT companies and startups are abuzz with the excitement of Onam Sadya.

Many are still looking to order the mega thali meal served on a banana leaf with around 28 items.

Reinventing harvest festivalMitul Dey, a resident of Vasanth Vihar, an army officers’ residential layout near Yelahanka enjoyed every bit of her metamorphosis into a farmer while choreographing and performing a harvest dance along with her friends Anjori Roy Choudhury and Malavi Menon. Mitul, originally from West Bengal, had been fascinated by the mythology and folklore Onam is rooted in even before she got married to Brigadier Pradeep Narayanan, who happens to be a Malayali. “We celebrated Onam last year too, and we had eight retired Indian army officers including generals, brigadiers and colonels grooving to popular Malayalam songs,” says Mitul, who had a lot of fun choreographing the performance. At Prestige Ferns Residency on Haralur Road, residents are eagerly waiting for a Thiruvathirakali performance (a traditional dance performed by women) scheduled for Sept 20. “As many as 74 residents, including senior citizens, are taking part in the mega Thiruvathirakali,” said a resident.

“We practise mostly on weekends,” she added. This Maveli has a high-profile job Residents of The Icon North Apartments in Thannisandra were in for a surprise when R Gandhi, who is the former deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of India dressed up as a Maveli and bestowed his blessings on them. He made headlines a few days later, as he got posted as the chairman of Yes Bank. The first-ever Onam celebration in the apartment was organized by The Icon North Malayalee Samajam (TIMS).

Festivities included a giant floral carpet and Thiruvathirakali, besides a sumptuous Onam Sadya for 600 people, including support staff, said Anjali Mohan, vice president of TIMS. Onam attire- a blend of tradition and modernityAratt Milano in Huskur witnessed vibrant Onam celebrations, including a tiger dance. “We got two tiger dancers from Trichur in Kerala,” said Dhanesh Narikkodan, a resident who works as a project manager at Servion Global Solutions.

Painted as tigers and leopards, they danced to the beats of instruments like Chenda, leaving everyone enthralled. Men in the apartment wore tiger-printed shirts, immersing themselves in the celebration.

Onam embodies equality and togetherness. Upholding the spirit of the festival, men in Bren Unity apartment in Marathahalli, chose to wear matching outfits as they performed a flash mob dance. “The shirts feature Kathakali, Theyyam, Mohiniyattam and floral motifs.

A lot of thought has gone into it,” says Rajesh Ramakrishnan, a resident who works as an R & D programme manager at HPE. A vendor who specializes in matching outfits for corporate events helped the residents move their dream forward and flaunt festive vibes in their attire. Onam Sari has evolved a lot over the years, incorporating floral and geometric designs and intricate embroidery, says Mercy Margreat who works as a nurse in a private hospital in the city.

“Women now pair it with designer blouses and temple jewellery,” she says. Chenda Melam being replaced by Shinkari MelamAnil Marar, a former IT professional, is now a busy Chenda artist. He has his hands full this Onam season. However, there is a growing demand for Shinkari Melam, especially among youngsters, notes Anil. “They seem to prefer the fast-paced, dynamic rhythms created by instruments like Base Drum, Cymbal, and Medium Tone Drum,” he says, adding Chenda Melam is more suitable for cultural functions.Floral carpets get a 3D makeoverDuring Onam, every home in Kerala comes alive with floral carpets. Children collect leaves and flowers from their neighborhood, backyards, and local parks, and arrange them artistically. In Bengaluru, not every household has a garden, and flowers are getting costly. However, nothing stops people from making floral carpets. Many order flowers online, while some use coloured powders and even rock salt to create floral carpets involving complex designs. “Theme-based floral carpets offering a 3D view are trending now. These are mostly made using coloured powders,” says Jayesh Tharayil, a resident of Lakeview County and Royal Castle Apartment in Singasandra, who takes part in floral carpet contests. “We still use finely cut flowers, but make sure they align with the design and don’t spill over the borders,” adds Jayesh, who works with Infosys. “Everything is changing, but the spirit of Onam remains the same.

Onam still brings everyone together,” he adds. VOICE BOX “I'm so happy to see a colony where residents from different parts of India live happily together, sharing stories, culture, traditions and laughter. They have created a beautiful mosaic of unity in diversity here." R Gandhi, CHAIRMAN OF YES BANK, AND RESIDENT OF THE ICON NORTH APARTMENT. DRESSED UP AS MAVELI DURING ONAM CELEBRATIONS IN THE APARTMENT.