Malayalis give kitchens a break with takeaway ‘Onasadya’

This Onam, Niranjana S. Nair and her family from Karaparamba in Kozhikode city decided to take a break from their kitchen and order their ‘sadya’ from a trusted local caterer. Families in Kerala are increasingly choosing this option to celebrate wholeheartedly without having to cook for at least a day.

“We could spend time together as a family and engage in activities, including visits to temples and relatives’ houses. This could not have happened if we had spent half the day cooking and cleaning,” said Ms. Nair, adding that everyone deserved a break from routine, and Onam was the perfect day for it.

It was after COVID-19 that Malayalees began relying on caterers for their ‘Onasadya’. Catering units and restaurants were among the few establishments allowed to operate during and after the lockdown. The idea of takeaway or home-delivered sadya was easily accepted at that time. The trend soon gained popularity as families recognised its other benefits.

“A takeaway sadya is cheaper than a home-cooked one. It also saves a lot of effort that could be put into more enjoyable activities,” said Shahul Hameed, who has been running a catering unit at Kuttikkattoor in Kozhikode for more than a decade. His unit served 200 Onasadya kits this year, catering to 200 families on Thiruvonam day alone. “This season, we prepared sadya for at least 20,000 people, mostly for Onam celebrations in schools and institutions,” he added. Most catering units accept pre-bookings, which close at least three days before Thiruvonam.

Mr. Hameed said preparing takeaway orders is riskier than direct catering for a wedding. “For weddings, we need to satisfy only one customer. Here, we have 200 customers to consider at the same time. It requires perfect planning,” he added.

People in Kozhikode and neighbouring areas often prefer non-vegetarian dishes to spice up their sadya. While Onasadya caterers do not supply these dishes, others do. “I have delivered at least 200 kg of chicken fry this Onam,” said Haroon Rasheed, who runs a unit at Kuttichira in the city.

As more families embrace the takeaway Onasadya trend, Ms. Nair feels it has a feminist angle as well. “How can a family truly celebrate when women are toiling in the kitchen? Onam is for everyone,” she said.