Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, is celebrated with great pomp across the state, but this time around festivities will be the last thing on people's minds as they come to grips with the devastation caused by the unprecedented deluge that claimed 231 lives.
The festival commemorates the return of mythical demon king Mahabali to see his beloved subjects at the beginning of 'Chingam', the first month of the Malayalam Calendar.
The mythical ruler is traditionally welcomed with a carpet of flowers, popularly known as pookalam, in front of houses, and 'Onam Sadyas' (feasts) and people turn out in new attire.
The fest is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by people across communities.
However, in the fortnight leading to the festival, which falls tomorrow, the state has been savaged by the worst rains in a century leading to several people being killed, houses destroyed and over ten lakh lodged in relief camps.
Water is yet to recede in several places and hundreds of houses are still submerged.
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"No flowers, no lights...you see a pall of gloom everywhere," P Mohandas, a Kathakali artiste, said.
"Mahabali will see the sufferings of his people hit by rains and floods instead of the usual fanfare associated with the biggest festival of Keralites as he visits their rain ravaged homes on Thiruvonam day tomorrow," he said.
Mohandas, hailing from flood-hit village of Mulakkulam North in Piravom in Ernakulam district, said many of the houses don't have the 'flower mats' (pookalam) in their courtyard to welcome Mahabali.
All sectors, including tourism, business, art and culture, have been hit by the deluge last week.
Office-bearers of the Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the floods had severely affected Onam business.
"Many businessmen in places like the rain ravaged town of Aluva have suffered heavy losses. Some of them have lost their entire stock in the floods.
The magnitude of loss for business community in other parts of the state is also very high," Chamber secretary R Sreenivasan said.
The situation is no different in some areas which were not affected by the rain fury with people coming forward to offer money for the relief fund instead of splurging it on the festivities.
"We are not celebrating Onam and preparing Onam sadya, the grand meal, this time.
Instead, we have decided to contribute money meant for it to buy relief material for affected people. Such is the sufferings of the people hit by floods," an employee of a private bank said.
Sreenivasan said they were assessing the total loss suffered by their members. "It will take some time," he said.
Murugan, a flower vendor at the bustling Chalai market in Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala's capital, said the unprecedented rains and floods had washed away all the "colours of Onam."
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