Celebrating Onam with kids: How tradition holds sway over contemporary fashion

As Onam fervour descends on Kerala, those who are in their past fifties will definitely turn intensely nostalgic and churn out memories of their childhood. Kids in those days enjoyed Onam the most. The general complaint now is that the festival has lost its original sheen over the years, and has assumed a different character altogether.

In those days, the ubiquitous rope swings hanging from branches of big trees and children adorning new clothes, cultural programmes staged at various locations evoked a cheerful sense of recreation and happiness. The rich and the poor equally enjoyed the festival. The out-door festive activities and games at family gatherings ran late into moonlit nights.

Even though such activities like decorating the courtyards with Athappookkalam, (floral carpets) and traditional games like kabbaddi, talappanthukali, and so on are rare for children now, the festival invariably imbues culture and tradition in the fashion scenario. Of late, children are increasingly seen flaunting the traditional attire blended with a hue of contemporary fashion.

Boys in white kasavu mundu and girls in kasavu-embedded skirts and blouse or frocks are now common sights at school programmes and other festive gatherings. The clothes are usually made of silk or cotton and are adorned with intricate designs and patterns.

For kids, Onam is a time of excitement, fun, and festivity, filled with new clothes, delicious food, and exciting games. Involving kids in Onam activities and traditions is now generally considered as a means of connecting children with the notions of unity, heritage and culture.