A Banana Leaf, A Full Heart: Remembering Our Office Onam Sadhya

 

Onam in the office, 2010 - where work paused and togetherness began.

Onam Sadhya in Our Office – A Memory from 2010 That Still Warms My Heart

There are some photographs that blur with time, and then there are some that become gentle anchors, pulling us back to a moment filled with warmth, people, and belonging. This picture from 2010 is one of those for me.

Some photos fade with time, but a few carry the fragrance of memories that never leave your heart.

It captures our Onam Sadhya celebration in the office, more than a decade ago. The image may not be crystal clear, but the memories behind it are sharper than ever. I still remember the energy of that day, the laughter echoing through the corridors, and the unmistakable fragrance of Kerala’s traditional feast spreading across our workspace.

Everyone had come dressed in the traditional Kerala attire. The white mundu, the simple shirts, and the unspoken pride of celebrating a festival that carries centuries of cultural memory. Even in an office filled with deadlines, meetings, and code reviews, something magical happened that day. For a short time, the office stopped being just a workplace. It became a small Kerala of its own.

Sadhya is not just food. It is an emotion, a philosophy, and a celebration of togetherness. Served on banana leaves, with each dish placed in a specific position, it reflects an ancient sense of order, gratitude, and harmony. When we sat cross-legged on the floor and shared that feast, we weren’t just eating a meal. We were participating in a tradition that connects people across generations.

Culture survives not in temples and textbooks, but in moments like these, where ordinary people choose to remember where they come from.

I remember looking around and feeling a quiet happiness. People who barely spoke to each other outside work were passing pickles and payasam to one another. Someone joked about how difficult it was to sit on the floor in traditional attire. Someone else shared stories of celebrating Onam back home. The office felt human, warm, and deeply connected in a way that corporate spaces rarely do.

Festivals have the power to remind us who we are beyond our job titles. They carry the essence of our culture, our childhood, and our roots. Onam, with its spirit of unity and abundance, reminded us that day that joy is simpler than we think. Sometimes, all it takes is a banana leaf, good food, and good people.

Looking back now, this picture is more than just a memory of an office event. It is a reminder of a time when life was simpler, friendships felt effortless, and culture flowed naturally into our everyday lives. A reminder that happiness often lives in the small moments we don’t realize will become precious later.

Onam Sadhya in the office, 2010. A moment frozen in time, still alive in the heart.