The harvest festival of Kerala, Onam, a grand festive occasion which was on Saturday, 25th August, was a subdued occasion all over due to recent floods. One favourite food which is served at the festival lunch in each family is Payasam, a semisolid sweet made of milk and cereal or rice.
Anna and I found this three wheeler parked over a bridge on the Periyar river, to sell this favourite dish, a day after the festive occasion!
The hotelier who thought of this innovative idea, told me, that he wanted to reach out to people to relish their favourite dish, especially those who are living in relief camps following the flood of last week.
We noticed that hotels who used to offer a festive lunch on the day of the Onam did not do so, due to the austere measure taken by them to contribute towards the flood relief fund!
However, there was hardly any sale of Payasam till mid day when we reached there!
People are still in a shock after the devastating flood, that they refused to be enticed by the festive mood!
So much to learn from human behaviour! When there is distress, it moves us deeply and painfully that we often resort to be austere and express that symbolically!
M.C.Mathew(text and photo)
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