As always, Kerala decked herself up in its finery to usher in a new year of hope and happiness. Hotels and tourism sector had come up with innovative New year programmes to pep up the milieu. There were variety entrainment programmes with a rich smattering of both contemporary and classic art forms, music, drama and pageants. The main alleyways were illuminated and hotels offered midnight bash, live music programmes and dinner feasts to draw the crowd.
In the past, festivals in Kerala were occasions to share the simple joys of life and share the virtues and cultural thoughts among the family members and to extend a helping hand to the less fortunate mortals. Nonetheless, with the onslaught of commercialisation, festivals have become more of ostentatious expressions of money and muscle power. and people make good use of it to hog the lime light and to grab a few eye balls in the society.
Men and women take time off to enjoy a make over in the leading spas and saloons of the city before heading to the super malls to cart away goodies to be distributed among friends during the bash. Eating out in a 5 star hotel followed by an outing in one of the popular holiday spots would almost always sign off the day in style. There would be also musical nights, fashion shows and pet shows to spice up the festive spirit. Food festivals are also popular ingredients of the festival calender of Kerala where men and women wait for hours together to carry home ‘payasams’ and other sweet dishes. It goes without saying that the new generation does not have the expertise to cook local delicacies and often depend on hotel to cater to their special needs during festival seasons.
However, the bottomline remains that even while indulging in fun and frolic, we should not forget simplicity and empathy for the less previleged people of the society.
