There are celebrations we attend, and then there are celebrations we become a part of.
Our Onam celebration at Trivandrum Toastmasters Club was definitely one of the latter.
On September 5, 2026, we gathered at Sri Mulam Club, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram, for a day that was meant to be our Onam celebration. But as the day unfolded, it became much more than a programme of events. It became a collection of little moments—some planned, some spontaneous—that I know we will remember for a long time.
For me, the day had a particularly special beginning.
I was one of the participants in Thiruvathira, the traditional group dance of Kerala, especially associated with Onam celebrations. There is something very special about being part of a Thiruvathira—the graceful circular movements, rhythmic clapping, traditional steps and the beautiful coordination between the dancers.
Standing there as part of the group, dressed for the occasion and waiting for the music to begin, I felt a lovely mix of excitement and responsibility. Thiruvathira isn’t about one person standing out. It is about moving together, keeping the rhythm together and becoming part of something larger than yourself.
And perhaps that became the perfect beginning to the day.
Because that was exactly what our Onam celebration turned out to be about—coming together.
The morning began with the Pookkalam, with members joining hands to create something beautiful with flowers. Soon, the venue was filled with colour, conversations, laughter and the unmistakable festive energy of Onam.
There was even a surprise waiting for us. Early in the programme, our VP-PR announced a Best Reel Challenge, with prizes for two members who captured the best reels during the celebration. Suddenly, besides participating in the events, we had another little mission—to keep our phones ready to capture the moments! 😄
The traditional spirit of Onam came alive with Thiruvathira and Vallamkali, and the day moved seamlessly between tradition and pure fun.
The games brought out a completely different side of everyone.
Cup Crossing. Cup Fighting. Musical Chairs. The Bindi Game. Tug of War 2.0.
There was competition, of course—but much more laughter than competitiveness. People cheered for one another, teased one another and got completely caught up in the moment.
Then came the Magic Show, adding a little mystery and wonder to the day. 🎩✨
Our acting session featuring comedy scenes from movies had everyone laughing again. Watching our fellow Toastmasters transform themselves into movie characters was a delightful reminder that there is so much talent hiding behind the serious faces we sometimes see at our regular meetings!
And then came the part that brings everyone together at an Onam celebration—the Onasadhya.
Members and guests sat together and enjoyed the traditional feast. There is something wonderfully special about sitting down for a Sadhya together, sharing the food, conversations and laughter around the same table.
And then, of course, came the three payasams! 😋
Because apparently, when it comes to Onam, moderation is not part of the vocabulary. 😄
The celebrations continued with songs, dances and performances, including The Missing Payasam and Mathayiyude Velipadukal, along with several other performances that kept the festive mood going.
Towards the end came the Fashion Show, bringing another burst of colour, confidence and fun.
But the best was saved for last.
When the formal programme finally came to an end, nobody seemed quite ready to leave the festive mood behind. The music became livelier, the numbers became faster—and suddenly all of us were on the floor dancing together. 💃🕺🎶
No podium.
No roles.
No speeches.
No evaluations.
Just a bunch of people laughing, dancing and enjoying being together.
I wish someone had captured that moment on camera. But perhaps some moments are meant to live in our memories rather than our photo galleries.
Looking around at that moment, I couldn’t help thinking about how different we can be from the people we see in our regular meetings.
The person who delivers a polished speech may turn out to be a terrific dancer.
The quiet member may surprise everyone with a comic performance.
The serious evaluator may become the loudest cheerleader.
And someone who usually stays behind the scenes may be the one making sure everyone else is having a good time.
Perhaps that is what celebrations do.
They allow us to step out of our usual identities.
We spend so much of our lives being something—professional, parent, colleague, leader, teacher, student, organiser. But every once in a while, it feels wonderful to simply be a person enjoying a moment with other people.
And we certainly captured plenty of those moments.
There were photographs. There were videos. There were reels. There were probably far too many clips of people laughing and dancing! 😄
But I am glad we captured them.
Because photographs and videos are not merely records of what happened. Sometimes, they become little doors into the past.
Years from now, we may look at one of those photographs and remember the Pookkalam.
Another may take us back to the Thiruvathira.
Another may remind us of the games, the Magic Show or the Fashion Show.
And surely, some photograph or video will take us straight back to that final moment when we were all dancing together.
We may forget who won a particular game.
We may forget the exact order of the performances.
But I don’t think we will forget how it felt to be there.
That, perhaps, is the real gift of a celebration.
It gives us something that no speech, presentation or achievement can quite give us—a shared memory.
We came together as Toastmasters.
We celebrated as Malayalis.
And for a few beautiful hours, we were simply a group of people enjoying the happiness of being together.
Why This Onam Celebration Stays with Me
Maybe that is why Onam continues to feel so special.
It is not just about flowers, festivities, food or traditions.
It is about belonging.
And at this Onam celebration, I felt that belonging—not just as the Secretary of my club, but as a participant, a dancer, a friend, a member of a community, and simply as someone who was lucky enough to be there.
Some days end when the programme ends.
Some days stay with us long after the music stops.
This was one of those days.
Happy Onam!
More Onam this season: Onam, Oonjal and the Joy of Belonging. Learn more about Onam from Kerala Tourism.