Kerala

Onam celebrations should uphold traditions of Kerala PEoplespeak

— Photo: S. Mahinsha

ONAM Extravaganza: The Chalai market in Thiruvananthapuram crowded with shoppers on Thiruvonam eve.

When all goods flood the market with a ‘wonderful offers,’ there is no point in containing the ‘consumerist spirit’ of Keralites.

A wild and ecstatic sense of happiness generated by festivals overshadows the common man’s intelligence. We should scratch our head to find out techniques to scale down unjustifiable extravagance of celebrations because the common man is seldom the beneficiary.

A.C. Jayarajan

Kanhangad

The depletion of our paddy fields, streams and other rustic charms has deprived Onam of its sheen.

The only way to save the glory of Onam is to save the traditional elements associated with it.

Such measures certainly be beneficial in the long-run.

M. Narayanankutty

Palakkad

The rampant commercialisation of Onam clearly signifies the decline in values related to the festival. The values like equality, truthfulness etc associated with Onam are on the wane. The festival is market-based. We have to concentrate on taking the festival back to our homes.

Kiran Jose

Thiruvanathapuram

Globalisation is on the rise and everything is getting commercialised. The individual is thus alienated from his culture and tradition. As a traditional festival, Onam has also been affected. The celebrations organised are turning out to be mere cultural events. There should be a rethinking on part of society. We should try to embrace tradition and keep the spirit of Onam and other such festivals alive. The thrust should be on goodwill and better relationships with our people in this world dominated by business.

Anthony Derrick

Thiruvananthapuram

Onam is the biggest and most important festival of the State. The traditional elements associated with the festival have disappeared. Now, Onam is fully commercialised. People are attracted by ‘mega offers’ and they celebrate with what they buy from the market. The new generation will miss the goodness of Onam. There should be better ways of celebrating Onam.

Rajasree B.

Pathanamthitta

Onam is a season of togetherness. But, today’s Onam is commercialised and people forget the purpose behind celebrating Onam. Entertainment apart, it should be an occasion for all of us to understand other’s feelings and sufferings and help one another. Commercialism alone cannot usher in happiness. Too much commercialisation will make Onam a festival of the rich. We should make Onam more meaningful.

Robinson S.J.

Thiruvananthapuram

Onam is becoming shop-centric. Everything is available in the market and hence, the spirit of the festival is lost. We should try to understand the idea of Onam better to celebrate it more meaningfully.

Dayle Vaz

Thiruvananthapuram

The feeling that commercialism has robbed Onam of its egalitarian spirit and devalued its cultural significance is slightly out of place. The rapid socio-economic changes continuously shape our attitudes and perceptions and transform the way people celebrate festivals. Romanticising the past misses the true picture and ignores the realities of modern life. If Onam was celebrated with more community participation and cultural activities in the past, it was a reflection of the living conditions of those times. It was a predominantly agrarian and feudal society with an oppressed peasantry yearning for change and equality of rights. The myth of a demon king presiding over a Utopia was created to infuse the festival with an egalitarian spirit. Socio-economic developments have provided opportunities for the common man to aspire for a better quality of life. Therefore, if the festival is an occasion to buy some gadgets, it is not commercialisation but another way of seeking happiness in the spirit of Onam. Also, one has to admit that commercialisation has contributed to the declining popularity of traditional folk arts.

V.N. Mukundarajan

Thiruvananthapuram

One is compelled to take a serious look at the issue look when public money is squandered or a people’s government foots the heavy bill of a celebration. The illumination in the capital was a bit too much at a time when the power situation is grim. No government will shoulder the burden. It will be passed on to the common man. Leading the celebrations should not the prime concern of the government.

Prof. R. Narayana Iyer

Thiruvananthapuram

We have made achievements in the fields of education, science, technology etc. The pattern of celebration has also changed. With our health and prosperity, we invest a good amount of time and money to celebrate Onam in our own way. It is not a matter of over commercialisation.

Naresh S.J.

Thiruvananthapuram

We live in a society which is dominated by the ideas of corporate giants. Unfortunately this has affected Onam as well. Commercialisation has made Onam a mechanical event. There is a lack of diversity and spirit.

Jayarajan Kalpetta

Thiruvananthapuram

Onam, in olden days, used to be the celebration of the dedicated, hard and honest work of a year. The present generation is only interested in the celebration part. This attitude should change. They should imbibe the true spirit

of the event.

Jiji Mathews

Kollam

I am a native of Karnataka and it was a pleasure to see Onam celebrations in Kerala. The rich cultural heritage of Kerala is amazing. All traditional festivals should be for the common man. It is sad to see too much commercialisation in the celebrations. It is essential for us to preserve our culture in a changed world.

Jeevan J.

Thiruvananthapuram

It is indeed true that Onam ahs been commercialised and the poor find it difficult to celebrate it the way others do. The interests of corporates dictate the way the common man should see Onam. This is the influence of commercialism and consumerism. The government should view the situation seriously and take steps to end the dominance of the market. Onam should be celebrated in a simple way. People should be aware of the moves by commercial interest-groups.

S. Alton

Thiruvanthapuram

Let us keep the celebrations simple. We should not forget our culture and blindly embrace other cultures. The ethos associated with Onam should be highlighted in all the celebrations.

M.C. Raj

Thiruvanathapuram

Onam is our most important festival. Keralites prefer celebrating Onam in a traditional way. However, over the years, commercialism has come to pervade Onam celebrations. Commercialism is a fact in modern day life and we have to learn to live with it. The spirit of Onam which soars over everything else should help us strengthen our bonds. The secular character of the festival also fosters a feeling of oneness. Though there are changes in the way we celebrate Onam, the underlying spirit remains unchanged. The joy of the season inspires everyone to look forward to the next Onam.

P. Prasand Thampy

Thiruvalla

There should be some check on the money spent during Onam. The government and the citizens shell out big amounts as part of the celebrations. Some economic agency should study the trend. There are States where we get rice for Re.one a kg. Political parties should view the situation seriously before rushing to the Centre for financial assistance. They should usher in some meaning to the celebrations.

K.P. Karunakaran Nair

Thiruvananthapuram

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