Express News Service
The actual essence of Onam is achieved when household and pals catch up, breaking the boundaries of faith, caste and creed to spend high quality time collectively. It is not only a harvest pageant for Malayalis, some even name it the pageant of delicacies. With over 25 dishes laid on a banana leaf, flavours burst within the mouth the second one digs into the Onam Sadhya. The conventional ‘Onam Pookal’, ‘Pulikali’, ‘Kaikotikali’, ‘Vallamkali’ and plenty of extra actions add to the grandeur of Onam, which units the festive temper all through Kerala for ten days.
But for the reason that onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Malayalis have been largely lacking out on this festive fervour, with many unable to spend high quality time with their family members on the event. Reminiscing the nice occasions that they had throughout Onam earlier than COVID-19 made an sudden entry into their lives, senior residents are actually silently bearing the ache of not being with their youngsters and grandkids.
“Those were the days of fun and excitement as we met cousins and friends during Onam. We used to run around aimlessly, busy with some activity or other, helping the elders with the chores and waiting eagerly for the sadhya,” says 78-year-old Krishnan Nair as he smiles, fascinated by his childhood.
Mr Nair is miles away from his kinfolk and ancestral dwelling in Pathanamthitta because of the pandemic and there’s nothing he wouldn’t sacrifice to be again dwelling through the festive season. “How I wish I could be back at my home, catching up with my neighbours and relatives and joking with my friends,” he provides.
Although he’s along with his youngsters and is being taken care of, the sense of being confined and unable to do what makes him blissful has dampened the festive temper for him.
Mrs Aleyamma Chacko alternatively has spent two years in Kerala with the hope of reuniting along with her son at the least for Onam. “My son works in the UAE and always made sure he would be home for Onam. For the last two years, I have not been able to meet him due to the pandemic. I do not know how to use a smartphone and sometimes our neighbour helps me to video call my son. It is heart-wrenching to imagine that this Onam also, I will not be able to meet him. I just hope things get back to normalcy as early as possible,” she says.
Mental well being consultants say they’ve noticed a drastic enhance in melancholy instances amongst senior residents for the reason that onset of the pandemic. “Most of them hesitate to ask for help during these tough times till the situation goes out of hand. Caretakers should keep a close watch on them to look out for any behavioural changes and make sure they are connected with people or activities they love doing. Timely medical and professional help must be sought to avoid complications,” says psychiatrist Dr Varun Rajan.
Even as senior residents really feel misplaced on this COVID-ravaged world, care should be taken to see that their sense of desperation is decreased. While you will need to be certain that they’re bodily wholesome amid the pandemic, we must always not neglect the psychological trauma they usually bear.
*Names modified on request
