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For city folks, the mention of Onam would conjure images of ready made kits that range from payasam kits to ready to eat onam fare! Unlike in the past, no body has the time nor the patience to begin the preparations from ‘atham’, which marks the beginning of onam festivities.  For many, Onam is a day for a well deserved family vacation or an overseas sojourn. With the advent of budget airlines flying to exotic island paradises like Maldives or Seychelles, vacations have become easy as never before.  The legendary king of ‘mahabali’ who visits his folks once in every year, is sure to have a startling surprise at the city homes as most of them would be locked up with its inhabitants enjoying exotic holidays or the watch man of these gated communities turning away the ‘king’ without allowing him to make a peek into the lives of his subjects!  

Even for those who would be staying back in Kerala, it would be a day of readymade onam feast in a five star hotel, loads of Onam entertainment TV programmes and shop hopping in some glitzy super malls, graced by salesmen in the garb of ‘mahabalis’! Onam still continues to be the synonym of shopping for urban folks, where they splurge on some of the hottest home appliances to grab a few eyeballs. It happens to be one of the biggest annual shopping extravaganza of keralites and the peak sales season for shop keepers. Discount sales, exhibitions and fairs galore to entice cash laden customers; sadly, for the fast paced urbanites, Onam has become nothing but yet another shopping festival.

Keralites have indeed lost the essence and virtues associated with this festival. These days, corruption rules the roost and in the mad race to grab fortunes are we trampling over our virtues that were held so dear by our legendary king who dreamed of a virtuous and truthful society?

In the countryside, still streaks of festivity and gaiety that go hand in hand with this grand festival can be seen. Most of the homes try to retain the quintessential charm and flavour of this festival without being eroded by the onslaught of time. They make floral carpets on all ten days preceding onam and spruce up the home and the courtyard leaving no stone unturned in extending a grandiose  welcome to the legendary king.

 Banana chips, pickles of various varieties and other sweetmeats would be made at home. Swings and songs add up to the festive milieu of Onam. The family members partake of an elaborate onam feast with both milk and jaggery payasams and over a dozen curries!  The only similarity they share with their urban counterparts would be the shopping spell that might break the bank of many, where new clothes for every family members and home appliances will be purchased with zest.

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