Onam decor

With just a few more days to go for Onam, a unique festive mood is in the air. This festive season, try these simple and interesting accents to decorate your home and give it a cheerful look

The festive season of Onam is here and there is no better time than now to experiment with the decors of your home. One can start by bringing in the festive colours and richness into the interiors of the house. A beautiful painting, a stylish chair in a corner, a luxurious carpet or a bright rug on the floor can do wonders to an ordinary house.

Similarly, floating candles, fresh flowers and fragrances can all bring in the festive mood.  Involve the kids in doing this, let them add their own touches to the scheme and see how the festivities come alive. Apart from these, perfect lighting, matching curtains and other minimal decors can accentuate and add life to any dull room.

The 3 C’s of décor

When it comes to decorating your home, for festive season or at any point of time, always remember the 3 C’s – Carpets, Curtains and Cushions. They have become an essential part of home décor today. It can transform an entire room's decor and deliver a bold colour statement. Add pattern, style and texture with carpets that reciprocate the beauty of each room. It can do wonders to enliven any dull room.

Add a dash of colour to your home and your life. Bright colours are the flavour of the festive season. Lively colours in the form of curtains, bright coloured cushions and a new coat of paint could produce an instant cheerfulness to your home. 

Simply paint one wall with your favourite colour and make it the focal point. Hang an attractive art piece on that wall or move a nice piece of furniture there. Bright shades and great colour combinations, add warmth to your home.

Festive ambience

In order to create an ambience, lighting plays an important role in the décor of any home today. Big shades and sculptural pieces of light make an instant statement. A chandelier centre piece in the living area is fast becoming a trend in many modern homes. Also, furniture continues to be an essential element and make for a chic décor. Be it the living room, bedroom or study, it's all about highlighting certain key pieces of furniture to 'centre' the room and give it character.

Try these simple decor ideas and enliven your interiors. It will definitely change the look of your house from drab to fab. Spruce up your room as per your taste, and proudly call it ‘yours’. Have a fabulous Onam!

Hop shop for gold

Onam is also a time to shop for gold and despite the high gold prices, the yellow metal continues to be a favourite this festive season

Onam is undoubtedly, one of the biggest shopping festivals in God’s own country.  Chingam, the beginning of the Malayalam New Year is considered the most auspicious time to make purchases, especially for high value purchases like gold, durables and vehicles.  It is no wonder that all the major brands in the country bombard the Kerala market with attractive offers and innovative schemes to cash in on this hot shopping season. 

Despite the high gold prices, Onam is also a time when consumers shop for gold for many reasons. The harvest festival also marks the beginning of the Malayali New Year, and buying gold is believed to bring in wealth and prosperity for the whole year. One can be sure that whatever be the gold prices, women in Kerala will still shop for gold. The simple reason being the beautiful yellow metal enhances the traditional Onam attire of the cream saree with the golden kasavu border.

Besides, the month of Chingam, is also the peak wedding season in Kerala and jewellers across the state are expecting good sales. During Onam, people also buy gold to be given away as gifts.

“For Onam, antique and diamond jewellery are more popular, though there is a huge demand for traditional jewellery as well,” confides the store manager of a popular jewellery brand in the city. According to Ramesh S Pai, partner, A. Geeripai Jewellery, MG road, jhumkas are a rage during the festive season and people usually buy traditional ornaments to match the traditional Kerala kasavu sari. “Gold jewellery with a glossy finish such as kashi mala, kasavu mala, poothali and palakka mala are fast moving during the Onam season,” says Pai.

When it comes to India, we have a strong tradition of jewellery and it is a symbol of status for women and families. Experts expect strong sales this festive season simply because jewellery is an integral element for many people during strong cultural and religious occasions. Get ready to usher in the festive mood in a glittering manner. 

Tradition rules!

No matter the progress made, traditions and rituals have not faded away when it comes to our biggest festival Onam, feels Mittu Gopalan

I feel that in this fast paced world that we live in, the younger generation are in a mad race to embrace modernity with least regret; whether it be in their outlook to life, dressing, cuisine etc. But the biggest blessing is that, when it comes to festivals, weddings and other rituals, any generation immediately loves to cling back to their traditions and customs. And this of course is a great feeling!

Its such a wonderful feeling to be in Kochi when the city is preparing for Onam. I love to see how Kerala welcomes Chingam onnu, with everyone clad in their traditional Kerala attire. Even the transport buses in Kerala decked up for Onam is always overwhelming sight! However I was surprised to see people ‘ordering in’ the Onasadhya dishes that they otherwise would have taken the trouble to cook at home in the past. But people still hold onto traditions such preparing the pookkalam (even if it means a small one), giving Onakodi and so on.

However, an Onam countdown in Sydney involves me preparing the dishes and getting ready to have a Sadhya with our family and friends on Thiruovam day. But to put attapoo for ten days in winter in Sydney is simply not possible. Its difficult to strictly comply with traditional  Athapoo carpets to be laid in front of our home due to the weather. But we do ensure that for Thiruovam, we put a flower carpet, so that kids can see what the tradition is and also ensure that we have a sadya, even if it’s in the evening after work and eat it on a paper banana leaf instead of a real one!!! And then of course, I secretly await to see the new Onam special Malayalam movies being screened on TV as well!!!

So though we improvise, accommodate and change the traditions to suit the modern era, but being so far away from home, I am glad that we strive do our best to stick to traditions and culture as much as we can. At the end of the day, it is these traditions and culture that form our backbones and that’s what makes us a true Malayali!

(The author is a lawyer and partner at Freedman & Gopalan Solicitors, Sydney) 

Onam for the non Malayalis

Onam, the mother of all festivals in Kerala, goes way beyond caste, community and religion. For it is celebrated with equal gusto and fervour by the non Malayalis in Kerala as well

Kerala is home to numerous communities such as Gujaratis, Sikhs, Tamil Brahmins, Kutch Muslims, Kannadigas and Marwaris, who have migrated to God’s own country decades ago for trading and other businesses. Over the years, they have embraced Kerala and its customs, practices and festivals as their own.

Until a few years back, Onam was just another festive season for the non Malayalis living in the state. Not anymore. The most remarkable facet of Onam is its secular nature. All the communities living here actively participate in the Onam festivities and celebrated it in a grand manner.

For the Gujarati community living in Kerala for generations, Onam holds a very special place in their hearts. The Onam celebrations are held every year at their 97 year old Gujarati school in Mattanchery. “Just like any other Kerala school, we have a variety of cultural programmes and competitions organised for Onam, such as a skit on the legendary King Mahabali, vadamvali and pookkalam competition for students.  We also make payasam and have a grand Onasadhya. The ladies in our community are very enthusiastic about the celebrations and keen on wearing the traditional Kerala sari. It has been a tradition we have never let gone till date,” says Chetan Shah, secretary, Kochi Gujarati Mahajan.

Essa Gaffar’s fondest memories of Onam takes him right back to his school days, starting from Onam exam, the long holidays, pookkalam and ends with the grand onasadya. “There is immense excitement in air, high-spirited celebrations and lots of happiness all around.  With no mobile phones and internet, life was simpler then and more importantly, people had a lot of time for each other,” recollects Gaffar, a Kutch Muslim, based in Fort Kochi.

While there are generations of migrated non Malayali communities who have made Kerala their home, there are others who have settled here for good. A Konkani by birth, businessman Umesh Kamath’s family migrated from Goa years back, and he was brought up in Kochi. “Onam celebration in our homes is just like that of the Malayalis. We visit the temple in the morning, make pookkalam and place onathappan in front of our house. Every year, we make it a point to invite our family friends over to our house for Onasadhya,” says Kamath.

Onam is very special for Delhi based Punjabi, Anupam Luthra, who married a Malayali and settled in Kerala. “Apart from the pookkalam and thiruvathira competitions in office, adorning the traditional Kerala sari with jasmine flowers is something I look forward to. This year, I would like to experiment with a set mundu for Onam. I have always been intrigued by the number of dishes prepared for Onasadhya, each having a distinct taste and flavour, especially the payasams. I still remember my first Onam in 2012, which I celebrated with my in-laws, I helped with the Onam dishes and there was so much of family bonding and re-union at home,” says Luthra.

The Marwari community from Rajasthan has been living in Kerala for more than three decades. Businessman Rajesh Kejeriwal, a Marwari, puts pookkalam at home on all the three days of Onam, makes Onasadhya and wears the traditional attire for Onam. “In the 1980’s, as a student, it was my pookkalam design which won the first prize in the school competition. My most memorable Onam was about 15 years ago, when as part of Onam celebrations in our locality, Mahabali visited every home including ours,” recollects Kejeriwal with a smile.

Iona Leekha, a pathologist in a reputed hospital in Kochi, initially found eating on a banana leaf weird, but got used to it in course of time. “Different departments in the hospital hold payasam fest, so I get to taste a variety of payasams during Onam. I enjoy dressing up my pre-schooler daughter Nia, for her Onam celebrations in school,” says Leekha.

While the Onam celebrations are on in full swing this year also, it is a known fact that Onam has transformed over the years. Kamath finds the pookkalam and onathappan missing these days, as most people live in flats. Kejeriwal agrees. “Onam today is commercialised and people have no time for festivities, owing to their busy life. Even onathappan is nowhere to be seen,” he says. Luthra feels that Onam has lost its old charm of family bonding due to the nuclear family. According to Gaffar, though Onam has changed drastically from what it was earlier, its essence remains the same, and still evokes a great deal of nostalgia - the unmatched aura of the good old Onam days!  

Onam Reminiscences

Onam, the most colourful and much awaited festival of Kerala, has transformed over the years. It has come of age with the changing times. Malayalis from different walks of life goes nostalgic as they share their most vivid memories of Onam

Deepa Srijit, Homemaker
“What I miss the most about yesteryears Onam is the flower picking for pookkalam and the Onam games like pulikali and thiruvathirakali. It used to be fun going around the neighbourhood, picking flowers for the floral carpet. We used to put pookkalam from atham upto thiruvonam, which is rare now. Children dressed as puli for pulikali, visited every house, which is totally missing now. Family bonding has also reduced as most people now live in flats and it’s instant Onam everywhere. However, I still ensure that a grand Onam Sadhya is prepared and give onakodi to our nearest relatives.”

Bhadran, Retired police official
“Onam holds such nostalgic memories, as Onam celebrations in my hometown in Kollam, is quite different from the rest of Kerala. Way back in the 70’s, kite flying used to be a popular sport during Onam, wherein we used to make huge kites which was so heavy that it needed at least 3-4 people to simply carry it! Stealing flowers from the neighbourhood for pookkalam, preparing all the Sadhya items at home etc. is missing now. In our part of Kerala, we even eat non-vegetarian food like chicken and mutton for second Onam, which is a rarity now.”

Gopika Murthy, Student
“As a student, I enjoy celebrating Onam in college every year by wearing the traditional Kerala saree and taking part in various cultural events including pookkalam making competition. But, nothing like the atha pookkalam we used to put at home as a kid, which has become a thing of the past now. Also, relatives and loved ones are too occupied these days with their busy life for a family union. The old charm and festiveness of Onam is also missing these days.”

My tryst with Onam

The sheer excitement and fervour that is in the air around the time of Onam is hard to miss, says Suhas S IAS, as he recollects his very first Onam celebrations

Having heard and read so much about Onam, one of the biggest festivals in Kerala, I was always intrigued about its traditions and rituals. The legendary story of King Mahabali visiting his folks during the harvest festival, the beautiful floral carpet, the elaborate Sadhya, the traditional Thiruvathirakali, pulikali etc. were some of the images that played in my mind about Onam, but last year in 2013, I had the opportunity of experiencing it live for the first time.

I was being trained in Ernakulam district in the capacity of Assistant Collector last year and had the rare opportunity of organising the week long Onam celebrations conducted by Department of Toursim Promotion Council (DTPC) every year. Every evening, we organised cultural progammes and activities at Durbar Hall grounds,
which had performances by danseuse Shobana, musician Jerry Amaldev and so on. A visit to a tribal village in Kothamangalam for Onam was one I will never forget. There was a grand sadhya prepared and I ate alongside with the people of this remote village on a plantain leaf. Their bamboo rice payasam was unique and tasty.

Besides, I also enjoyed the Onam celebrations at the district hospital, Kochi and at various schools, where I was invited as the chief guest. I even had to give a speech in Malayalam on the occasion of Onam, which was my first attempt at speaking the local language. Believe me, it was tough to speak in Malayalam, even if it was just a few sentences!

The sheer excitement and fervour that is in the air around the time of Onam is hard to miss. What makes it really beautiful and worth cherishing is the way it is celebrated by all the people of Kerala, irrespective of caste, creed or religion. It was an experience I will never forget in a lifetime.

Salute to the indomitable spirit and enthusiasm of Malayalis across the world especially in the state, as each community tries to bring out the best of Onam flavour. This was my first-hand experience with one of the best festive seasons of God’s own country, surely the beginning of many more to come, as I look forward to a grand and colourful Onam this year also.

                                                  (The author is Sub Collector and SDM, Fort Kochi)

              

Freedom to be!

As India celebrates its 67th Independence Day, we asked a few youngsters on their thoughts of freedom. Here is what they had to say:

“Freedom becomes an experience and reality when every single person in the country can live without fear and enjoy equity and justice- substantive equity. As long as religion, caste, gender and ethnicity divides and oppresses, freedom has no meaning.” - Aleyamma Vijayan, Secretary, Sakhi Resource Centre for Women, Trivandrum

“Freedom to me in the absence of restriction to do what I feel like irrespective of my caste creed religion or status in the society. Being a law abiding citizen I think India gives enough freedom to citizens. But it's frustrating that the ability of citizens to enjoy freedom is restricted by these factors.” – Jugul Thachery, Founder and COO, Ruby Seven Studios Inc.

“Freedom to me is the right to live your true self without fearing your neighbours, the right to express what you feel is right & also the choice to walk away from what you feel is wrong. Freedom would mean responsibility towards others’ lives as well.” – Harish Janardhanan, Kerala Head-Customer Service, Docomo

“The sleepless nights of our brave soldiers put us to peaceful sleep. Let's dedicate this Independence Day to our soldiers, who gave us the freedom to live peacefully. Proud to be an Indian. Happy Independence Day. Jai Hind” - Shamim Rafeek, CEO & Founder, Winner In You Training & Coaching Services, Kochi

“Freedom - As a person born in Free India, I dont think I can appreciate the emotion as much as my forefathers felt on August 15, 1947. Freedom of expressing your thoughts and carrying out your deeds without fear is a simplistic way of explaining the concept yet it does not capture its true feeling or depth. If you really want to feel free, you have to look within to understand what it means to you and celebrate our Independence Day for it. Freedom is not about the flag, our culture, its not about the geographical landmass, it is about YOU!!” – Adarsh Kavungal, CEO, Titan Educate

Language Matters

Interview with Ms. Leela Joseph, head of the department, department of Communicative English, St. Teresa’s College, Kochi

English language has undergone a revolution from merely a subject of prose, poetry and literature to a more practical subject that offers great scope for communication. It is the language of the global village, used in business, diplomacy, media and education. With the invention of new communication technologies, the power of mass media has grown in stature and defines one’s thoughts and views. Also called functional English, communicative English deals with interesting subjects like journalism, advertising, management studies, public relations, mass communication and film studies.

Students who have completed their plus two in any stream with a minimum of 50% marks can opt for an under graduate program in communicative English and graduates in any discipline can apply for its post-graduation. Good reading habit, an open mind and general awareness about current affairs is a must. Apart from this, good communication skills, innovative thinking, creativity and an eye for detail are an added advantage for communicative English students.

Of late, there has been an upsurge in the visual media with the focus on short films, ad films and documentaries. Internships are a part of this three year course, where students are given on the job training in hospitality sector and advertising firms. In the final year, apart from presenting a thesis, they are required to organise a public relations campaign on a topic of their choice. There are about 100 seats available for a bachelor’s programme in communicative English.

Communicative English offers interesting career options in the education sector as well as a variety of fields such as journalism, mass media, advertising, and management studies like public relations, human resources management and entrepreneurship development. Teaching the subject in a college or university is also an option, apart from a career in a media production house, advertising industry or PR agency. Students can also opt to do an MBA in human resources, to get into management jobs.

With immense possibilities offered in the field of communication, the subject is gaining recognition as a career oriented course and more students are opting for it today.