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 Last year, it began with an
e-mail from Maveli who got interested in the ideal Maa Mallupuram Chennai.
Remember how His Highness Maveli blessed our last year's Onam with his rich presence. Recall how we organised a grand meeting on the Marina where Maveli distributed prizes and had brunch with us. (He preferred brunch as he had to attend Antony's lunch in Kerala.) He had the brunch with a promise that he would have lunch with us this year.
But this year, I got no e-mail from Maveli. I tried to contact
maveli@pathalam.com, but all the letters bounced.
I tried to visit the celebrated www.pathalam.com
and www.asura.co.in which Maveli had launched challenging the US slowdown. But these sites were not opening. (In fact, I could not open these sites after September 11.)
If I got only one letter during the last Onam, i.e., the one from Maveli for whose name's sake Malayalees celebrate Onam, this year I have a flurry of letters - letters from Maa Mallupuram associations inviting me to their Onam celebrations. One of the invitations highlighted Kaikottikali or Thiruvathirakali by famous Malayalee sportswomen led by Shiny Wilson.
None of these letters could enthuse my spirit as I missed Maveli's letter. And I continued to wait for his e-mail or even a postcard from him, assuring me of his visit.
It gradually dawned on me that there was no need to waiting for an e-mail from Maveli as Maveli would never fail to keep his promise. And waiting for an e-mail became waiting for Maveli himself.
 In fact, the essence of Onam is waiting for that noble king whose pot belly, palm leaf umbrella and wooden chappals symbolise an utopian bygone era in Kerala. It helps us blend reality and fiction in an inseparable way. And this waiting for Maveli gives meaning to the life of all Malayalees, even if we happen to be in alien lands.
My neighbour Malayalee auntie in Adambakkam, who seldom comes out of the house, kindled the Onam spirit in me this year with her timely visit with banana chips. She reminded me of all our neighbour aunties in Kerala who never failed to visit us with payasam and chips on Thiruvonam. And my Onam is complete with thoughts of Maveli.
Readers' response/inputs can be e-mailed to salil@chennaionline.com.
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