Onam from my memories !

 
Every year we celebrate onam, we make all those same dishes that we are having from ages but still the memory of onam that we celebrated as little kids pop up when we have to talk about onam! 
I remember getting up early morning to collect flowers for 'athapookalam'  (flowerbed) along with the whole group of children in that area..  somehow we never bothered  to take a plastic bag or vessel like a civilised person but was very happy to collect it in our home wear ...  Somehow I always found the 'kamalapoo ( red and yellow flower with a different shape which wud found only near the river ) the best! 

After the 'Atthapookalam' the group would proceed to have a bath in the river... This is strictly prohibited for me so I would patiently wait watching the others in my comfirtable seat a huge rock near the river ... Somehow the process of washing clothes n bath would end only around 12..

We would convinse Papa about the jula and few days in advance he would make a jula in the close by coffee (indeed it was too small) tree.. After few years it was in a jackfruit tree, as we grew our jula also became bigger.

Before wearing the new dress i would always scan the kitchen to see if all my favourite dishes are in place... The smell of avial some how never allowed me to move without tasting! 

Lunch is usually at our neighbours house but still mom would make aviyal and things so that 'maveli' wont  be disappointed !

Eating in leaf with such a lot of dishes, hoo, its a feeling I can't forget! Them taste of the food which is made by 'chellamma chechi' I still have it in my tonge...

  Then its d  convinsing time to allow us to go  the most awaited programmes  at the nearby house 'aashan' .. Both of them knew well how we wanted to go for the programme but they put conditions ... The agony that we went through ! Ho, we managed it most of the time but few times I remember going without permissions too..

All dressed up so well specially ladies  with  mallu sari with lots of flowers in their hair.. Then entire area, all families would end up joining them..

There would be a very long 'jula' where in we need to be in que.. An amazing experience ... Though it's meant for big people  mani chettan would allow us for few minutes !

One side ladies will have some program, kaikottikali, thumbithullal and lots of fun activities.. One fellow would dress up like  puli (cheetah ) and will have pulikali.. Lots of competitions!

An amazing experience altogether!   Haven't seen onam in Kerala for last 25 yrs may be the things would have changed but somehow my memory reminds same!