My mom recreated her childhood in Mumbai for us: Malavika Mohanan

Malavika Mohanan has always heard of how Vishu is celebrated in Kerala, but she has never actually experienced it. “Amma would always tell us how grandly they would celebrate Vishu in Kerala. I grew up in Mumbai, and not even in a Malayali locality. So, I used to think there was never a sense of community,” she tells us, adding, “But amma always tried to make it as festive as possible for us.”

To ensure she and her brother get the essence of the festival, her mom would put up an elaborate Vishu kani.“More than shopping for clothes, buying the fruits, vegetables, flowers, and other paraphernalia for the Krishna idol we would put up at home gave me such joy growing up. It always felt like a treasure hunt when we would go around the city looking for the specific yellow flowers we would use,” she reminisces, adding, “And on the festival day itself, we’d have friends over for a delicious sadhya, dress up in traditional clothes and go to the temple come evening.”
It was only years later that Malavika realised her mom was trying to recreate her own childhood in Kerala for them in Mumbai. “She wanted us to feel the same thing she did – a sense of belonging with loved ones because what else does a festival need?” she ponders. Malavika also loves how she gets to dress up and feel special this time of the year. “I love raiding my mom’s jewellery closet and wear her jhumkis. Be it the pawda and top when I wore as a child, the half saree I was excited to wear as a teen or the kasava saree I wear now, it all makes me feel like I’ve stayed in touch with my roots,” she rounds off.


If you’re away from Kerala like Malavika, missing your family and just the festive spirit of it all, check out these tips on how to feel closer to home:
- Spend time with your loved ones, especially with your fellow Malayali friends, because it’s all about the community spirit
- Wear something traditional, dress up with your girlfriends. The whole process itself is so much fun
- Look up recipes on YouTube or video call your family and make the yummy food you absolutely miss
- Go to a temple. Even if you aren’t religious, it always help me feel positive and lovely when I’m feeling down
- Who said you can’t modernise the festival? Have some Vishu mimosas or mojitos and make a fun evening out of it