Anand Mahindra shares Onam Sadhya memories from his Ooty boarding school days

In a post on X, Anand Mahindra said that one of his most vivid memories of Onam is the traditional Sadhya, particularly the payasam that he and his schoolmates eagerly awaited.File photo of Anand Mahindra (Reuters) Industrialist Anand Mahindra sent across Onam wishes to his fans and followers as he shared a nostalgic memory of celebrating the festival during his boarding school days in Ooty.In a post on X, Mahindra said that one of his most vivid memories of Onam is the traditional Sadhya, particularly the payasam that he and his schoolmates eagerly awaited.“For most of us, Onam’s most vivid memory is the Sadhya. Certainly true for me. At boarding school in Ooty, we eagerly awaited the Onam feast and above all, the payasam,” Mahindra said.The Onam Sadhya is an elaborate vegetarian feast traditionally served on a banana leaf, with a spread of dishes that can include rice, curries, vegetables, pickles, chutneys and payasam. The feast is an integral part of Onam celebrations and is associated with the festival’s spirit of community and togetherness. But Mahindra’s memories of Onam went beyond the feast. In his post, he also mentioned Vallam Kali, Kerala’s famous snake boat races, describing the sight of the long, narrow boats cutting through the state’s waters as perhaps the festival’s “most vibrant image.”“Hundreds of oars. But one rhythm. One direction,” he said, drawing a larger lesson from the spectacle of rowers moving together in perfect synchronisation. For Mahindra, the image became a reminder of the power of collective effort. He described the boat race as “a spectacular reminder of what we can achieve when we pull together.”See Anand Mahindra’s post here:For most of us, Onam’s most vivid memory is the Sadhya.Certainly true for me. At boarding school in Ooty, we eagerly awaited the Onam feast & above all, the payasam..But perhaps the most vibrant image of Onam is Vallam Kali with those magnificent, arrow-like snake boats pic.twitter.com/Remal3tkC7— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) August 26, 2026As Kerala’s biggest festival, Onam is celebrated with a host of traditions, from elaborate Sadhya feasts and Pookalam floral decorations to cultural performances and Vallam Kali. The festival is rooted in the legend of King Mahabali and is celebrated as a time of prosperity, joy and togetherness.- EndsPublished On: Aug 26, 2026 19:45 IST