Women putting on a floral carpet for Onam
Flowers brought in truckloads from Tamil Nadu, take-home 'sadya' and even plastic floral carpets--- Kerala's traditional harvest festival Onam, just three days away, has largely become a 'ready-made' event in "God's own country."
Onam commemorates the Utopian past of Malayalis when they were subjects of mythical king Mahabali, who was banished to the netherworld by Lord Vishnu at the behest of envious "Devas."
But people feel that the festival has lost much of its beauty and grace.
Eminent poet and environmentalist Sugathakumari says Onam has become yet another "consumer utsav" for Malayalis.
"For generations, Onam was not just another festival for Malayalis. It was the celebration of our culture and tradition," she said. "But, everything has changed now. It has become the
celebration of discount sales of textile shops and competition to lure viewers by local television channels."
Despite heavy rains battering the state during the run-up to the festival, people have begun to throng shops to buy new clothes and gifts.
Though "dry" days are ahead for the tipplers in Kerala with the Government deciding to drastically reduce liquor availability, the deadline for downing shutters of bars has been stretched to mid-September after Onam.
Many of them search for handy solutions for preparing feast and laying floral carpets, the inevitable adjuncts of Onam for Keralites. A wide range of ready-to-use things from
hotel-made 'sadya' (traditional feast) with plastic 'plantain' leaves to serve the mouth-watering dishes have become the new thing of the season.
Big hotels and caterers lure gourmets with elaborate lists of dishes they offer with charges ranging from Rs 150 - Rs 450 per leaf. Many caterers offer home delivery during 'Thiruvonam' day on September 7, the most auspicious day of the festival, when Mahabali revisits his subjects.
As fast-paced urbanisation and deforestation have taken a huge toll on local flowering plants, Malayalis rely almost entirely on Tamil Nadu and Karnataka for flowers to make 'pookkalam'.
Dealers source a variety of flowers from places like Thovalai in Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu, which was once part of the princely state of Travancore. Textile and home-style shops have started discount sales and special Onam offers since the beginning of 'Chingam',
the Malayalam month which marks the beginning of the Onam festival.
Serpentine queues could be seen before grocery shops, especially in front of the government-run Supply-Co shops which offer essential articles at minimum price.
Street vendors, targeting mainly migrant labourers, have also found place on both sides of the major roads and streets.
However, incessant rains and cloudy skies, which are uncommon during the season, have slightly dampened the usual festival mood.