The Ona Sadya

Woke up to a pleasant morning. Quickly completed the morning chores, just in time to drop my already "busy bee" daughter to her dance classes in the Car. The place was just around the corner, a 5 minutes walk. But this present day father does not want to allow his 10 year old to go alone.

On the way back, I noticed a man with his daughter crossing the road to the other side and making her sit in the open for her morning chores. I was livid and honked loudly. He looked up but did not seem to notice me or did not care. There was  more on his mind to notice some idiotic driver honking  on an empty road.

My apartment complex loomed up and I made the turn into the drive way. And for some reason my mind went back to the man I had seen before.



Who was he. He was dressed in a clean shirt and a tightly tied dhoti. Dressed more like a villager. Maybe from north of Karnataka. What was he doing in Bangalore. Was he another migrant. Does he have any work ? How does he feed his family ? What about his house , education for his kids ? A hundred questions, but no answers.

It been raining continuously this season. It has been un-usual. For a normal city dweller, this means a wearing additional clothes maybe from the latest fashion line. The kids bring out their colorful raincoats. Maybe mummy will make some of those mouth watering pakodas.

What does extra rain mean to this man. Did he have any land ? Did his crop survive or did it get washed away. Was he just a worker in a farm ? Did he not have any work to do, due to the excessive rains. Was that what forced him to come to this unfriendly city. It has to be. Why would anybody bring his entire family here. 

I was interrupted by my wife reminding me that she need to buy vegetables for tomorrow. Tomorrow is Onam. A day of happiness and feasting. A day when you wish prosperity for all. A day when the Feast or "Ona Sadya" brings together everything that is grown in the farms. 

Will all those people who made this  possible also have a "Ona sadya" ?