Onam without Mahabali?

Can a celebration be detached from its moorings?

Every year at Onam, the 30-odd Malayali families in our apartment complex in Bangalore change things a bit to avoid repetition and to make the celebrations interesting for the 200-odd other families in the complex.

Up until this year, this meant adding variety to the song and dance programs, arranging a Kalarippayattu demonstration and so on.

The event has always been well received by the community. At its core though, there was always a walkabout by a Mahabali in full regalia, a chenda melam, and an unmistakable traditional Malayali feel to the program.

This year was different. For the first time, the legend of Mahabali has been largely separated from the event.

While we did have traditional events like kaikotti kali by the ladies, the overall theme was more street, less tharavadu.

So there was a naadan chaya kada (tea stall), menfolk dressed in red mundu and black shirts, and the song and dance items were more rap than traditional.

The makeover was a hit.

All tribes evolve customs and celebrations to suit their circumstances and this is a makeover by one group of urban apartment dwellers in cosmopolitan Bangalore. I have no idea if it is a trend in other towns and cities.

Onam is a uniquely secular festival that cuts across all divides and there's a lot of leeway in what you can do with it.

Have we now reached a point where the celebration can be detached from its moorings entirely? Without the legend of Mahabali, will Onam celebrations retain their individuality? Or will it merge into the filmi melting pot of urban India?

We go with the flow, of course. A melting pot is good for dissolving differences.

But a thali is more varied and interesting than a khichdi.