CHENNAI: When you live away from home, you search for excuses to take a vacation and rush back to the comfort of your home. For Malayalees living in Chennai, what better option than Onam to escape from the grind of daily life and celebrate the festival of harvest with their near and dear ones back in Kerala.Most Malayalees enjoy their onakkodi, the new clothes that they get to wear on Onam, as much as they enjoy eating the elaborate festival meal, Sadya. “I’ve got only one day holiday for Onam,” says Ram Kumar, an executive officer working in Chennai and a native of Thiruvannathapuram, Kerala. “But, I’ve taken a week’s leave and will be leaving soon. I want to be home on Friday, which is Thiruonam, the biggest day of the festival. My roommate, who is a Malayalee, has already left for home. I’m looking forward to the holiday.”However, there are a few other Malayalees in Chennai who are not as lucky as he is. Marketing executive Jeevesh Viswambharam will be celebrating Onam by himself in Chennai. “I’m new to the city, and haven’t made many friends. I will be working during the festival,” he . However, Jeevesh, who has been away from his native Thrissur for almost seven years now, says that he has some fond memories of celebrating Onam alone during his work stint at Bangalore. “All my Malayalee friends had gone home. I was alone in the hostel. But my landlady, who was a Malayalee, surprised me by serving a range of Onam delicacies for me. I relished those dishes and still vividly remember the taste of it.”Others like Hari Janardhanan will be celebrating Onam with friends in Chennai. “I went home last Onam, but I’m unable to do so this year. However, I will be celebrating Onam with all my friends, including some of the North Indian friends I’ve made here. For me, this festival cuts across all barriers.”[email protected]
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