Pandu pandu oru onakkaalathu.. (പണ്ടുപണ്ട് ഒരു ഓണക്കാലത്ത്..)

That is the mallu way of saying 'Once upon a time during Onam'.
Somehow today while surviving Onam in another continent i find myself taking a walk down the memory lane....back to my home and back to all the Onam's celebrated with family and relatives. To be frank, I never really bothered about the legend behind Onam nor felt sorry for the great king Mahabali, who was sent to 'paathaalam' for being so good to his subjects. For me Onam was 10 days of fun holidays. Time for movies, games, roaming around places, new clothes and all those upperi's, sharkkaravaratty's and yummy paayasams which was made at home only for Onam.

My Dad used to be the most excited one among us about any festival. I still remember him making all the arrangements for Onasadya, which is the highlight of this festival. He'd even be in the kitchen giving instructions to my mom in his own style. How much care he used to take to see everything went perfect, i can never imagine myself giving so much importance to things like the way he used to.

Our kitchen used to be really busy with all of us trying to help mom with something or the other till lunchtime. And i missed that today while preparing an Onasadya all by myself in my kitchen here. Missed my dad and his infinite instructions on how to do things perfect...Missed my mom trying to get everything together according to my dad's wish, read as 'instructions'... Missed my brothers trying to munch the pappadam's as soon as it was made and trying to have the first taste of every dish which was being prepared. Missed my Vallyamma's very spl Sambar and Vendaykka kitchadi and that Parippu Payasam she makes, i'll never be able to make it that tastey.
Dad would ask my brothers to cut plantain leaves frm the backyard and they'd disappear to watch all those Onam exclusive shows on TV leaving me and my Dad to complete the task. It was my Dad who taught me how to serve sadya on a plantain leaf. Every dish had a specific place in that leaf, wonder who made all these rules. I never understood why 'parippu' was served only on the right side of the leaf nor the 'Oh-so-very-tasty-Kichadi' was served so little on the top left corner of the leaf near the pickles and upperi's. I can still picture him and my mom making sure everything is served right before inviting everyone to the dining table.
Instead of them being here with me in person i have their photographs in the corner of my kitchen, and today i tried to fool myself in vain about their presence.

So i guess Onam, apart frm being a good harvest festival is much much more for everyone who is faraway frm the malluland and their loved ones. I could never imagine myself being so emotional about a festival which happens every year like clockwork, but hey its happening.
I know those days will never come back no matter how i wish, i am glad at least i am left with some good memories to survive all the Onam's to come.

Will leave this post with an interesting note...If you ask any old person in Kerala about Onam they'd tell you this for sure...Ippol enthu Onam? Ithonnum oru Onamae alla...Athokke oru kaalam, njangal ellaam Onam aaghoshicha pole ippol nadakkumo?

I think finally i am able to see light in those words.