Mala Kalyanram is elated to be celebrating the festival of Onam after a two-year gap due to the Covid-19 pandemic. While people did take part in the festivities in a small way during the last two years, the Chembur resident wasn’t able to carry out her annual ritual of making the pookkalam (flower rangoli) with her children and grandchildren. However, this year is going to be different because the 59-year-old has managed to make it every day leading to Onam. “While I can’t do it myself anymore because I can’t bend easily, I sit near my grandchildren to tell them how to make the design. It wasn’t possible in the last two years because the flowers weren’t easily available but this year, we have done it on all the days,” she explains.

Every year, Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala is celebrated during this time of the year. The festival which commemorates the return of King Mahabali, who according to legend, was considered to be a good king even though he was a demon. The festival is observed by the Malayali community over 10 days and finally culminates into a celebration, which includes a Keralites enjoying a delicious sadhya, that comprises of many dishes, that are prepared by every family on the day, and eaten on a leaf. This year, Onam is celebrated on September 8 and just like Kalyanram, other Mumbaikars in the city are excited about celebrating the festival with friends and family.