KOCHI: With the pandemic forcing schools to shift to remote learning, Onam celebrations too have moved online. The shift to the virtual world has brought about a change in the way the schools celebrate the festival with parents and family members becoming active participants in programmes which in normal times involved only students and teachers.
Some schools are seeing these initiatives as a better way to connect with parents and help students navigate the lockdown stress. While traditional competitions such as Pookalam, Thiruvathira, Onappattu, Purusha Kesari, Malayali Manka, etc, are being held online many schools have added new events in line with the pandemic times. Students are taking part in digital Pookalam competitions, besides creating Onam-themed masks and giving ‘Maveli’s speeches’ on Covid-19.
Making of Pookalams will be the only activity to be held at most schools physically and it will be attended only by teachers.
“This year too we are celebrating Onam online and are planning both pre-shot and live programmes. Parents’ involvement and support is inevitable in the celebrations. Students and teachers will appear online in Onam attires and make digital Pookalams. We have also made videos of kids dancing, singing, doing skits, etc, which will be streamed on Thiruvonam Day. Students will also sing songs written and composed by teachers,” said Juby Paul, principal, ToC-H Public School, Vytilla.
Jayaprabha Pradeep, principal of Gregorian Public School, Maradu, said parents are playing a key role in the school’s celebrations which span a month. In smaller classes, kids, along with parents and grandparents join online meets.
“In some videos, the grandparents share their experience of Onam celebrations. They play with their kids in the swing, draw family trees, and sing with them. It is the best way to connect with family members. Moreover, it strengthens the bond between students, teachers, and parents,” Jayaprabha said. The students of Global Public School, Thiruvaniyur, made floral carpets using recycled materials, cooked Payasam and took part in a medley of Onam festivities. “We also organized a quiz to test the students’ knowledge about the secular festival Onam,” said Sreekumar Kartha, principal.
