With a good number of residents leaving for their hometowns and the rest relaxing in their homes, the city is yet to wake up from its self-imposed Onam recess.
A day after Onam, people commuted at a slow pace through roads that are congested on most other days. The evening showers further dampened the mood.
Families and youth who were on an outing headed for parks and open spaces concentrated on the city's western end.
The cultural fiesta organised jointly by the Ernakulam DTPC, the District Administration and Kerala Tourism at the DH Ground, Marine Drive and Children's Park were the crowd pullers. Defying the rains and the delay in beginning many programmes, people waited for the events to unfurl on stage. A few curious foreign tourists too waited patiently to check them out.
A temporary roof at venues like the DH Ground would have brought in more people to witness the art and dance forms, many of which are staged in the city during the Onam season alone.
There is increasing demand that these Government-organised events be staged in the few other open spaces in the city too, for the benefit of people living in the suburbs.
Though some stalls selling garments, household utensils etc., at the Ernakulathappan Ground closed shop by Onam day, the few that remained did above-average business. People could purchase anything ranging from safety pins to saris and furniture sets from the stalls.
A few shoppers stalked stalls with boards that blared – ‘Kolkata saris for Rs 70 a piece; T-shirts for Rs 99'.
Groups of women from north India tested their unique marketing capabilities to sell bangles and curios to people.
Furniture made of small shreds of cane and reasonably-priced handicrafts/utility items with good finish were on display at stalls put by sellers from Tripura.
There were also dry and man-made flowers from West Bengal adorning nearby stalls.
