On the occasion of Onam, a reader writes in.

"Onam means celebration of unity. But we are not interested. We love flowers and we do Athappookkalam (flower bed) during Onam days. Nothing else", say 19-year-old students, Jayanthi Rajan and Prasanna Mukesh of Stella Marie's College, Chennai who hail from Thrissur, Kerala. Jayanthi and Prasanna are not the only two in the new era who think and feel this about Onam.

But Anuradha and Hema from Adayar in Chennai have the view that the youth should have a positive mind to celebrations like Onam. "It is like something special in our heart when we think about it", says Hema.
"It gives us inner strength that we are not alone in this busy world. It gives us a sense of our roots. When you are part of a society you should spent more time to find your 'roots'- cultural roots of a person." " In India, every day, some one celebrates a festival. Malayalees who hail from "God's own Country" celebrate this day wherever they are. "It doesn't take a back seat even if he or she is on the Moon", says Thanuja from Kumarakaom, Kerala.

Most of the youth have the view that like all other celebrations, Onam too has lost its ' life'.
"When compound families (larger families) disintegrated into nuclear families, the inherent unity and harmony was lost. Onam, the only mass festival in which people celebrate as a single society lost its warmth and colour."

It is no longer a traditional festival for the youth of today but it is an 'instant' celebration. Onam festivities come commercially packaged nowadays. The only exception is games. "You can't blame only youngsters for creating such an 'instant Onam culture'", says Vishalam Hari. " I know many families who wait for Onam to purchase instant packet items. Parents are also not interested in spending their time. Most of them think that if they spend time to do something to celebrate an Onam with natural items, it will be waste of time. It is this kind of attitude that needs to be changed," says Vishalam.

Nowadays, youngsters prefer to sit at home and watch special movies telecast on the occasion of Onam rather than go out and join the celebrations.

Students and the youngsters are the back bone of every society. When they see less interest in Onam, a celebration of so many extravaganzas, it raises eyebrows about the future of the colourful celebration itself.

But there is still hope that the modern youth would understand the significance of Onam and find the faith and confidence that symbolises this beautiful festival and the true spirit of Onam.

The message and hope of the legendary King Mahabali, who is believed to be visiting his land on each and every Onam day, will come up with all it's vigour and natural colours. This is the belief of many.

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