The festival of Onam is a big deal for Malayalis and it is celebrated by the community spread across the world. Onam is incomplete without the quintessential feast named ‘Sadhya’ and donning the traditional Kasavu.
However, one clothing brand named Cottons Jaipur faced flak online due to their modern take on the festival. Launching their Onam collection, not only did they show two women wearing salwar kameez instead of Kasavu but also made a few errors in the items chosen for Sadhya.
According to The Indian Express, the picture showed dosa and idli on a banana leaf along with three steel bowls with sambhar and chutney, with a little rice on the side. Several people pointed out how idli and dosa isn’t a part of the traditional Sadhya meal and that just a white-and-gold combination doesn’t make it fit for Onam.
Since when did Dosae and Idli be a part of Onam Sadhya? pic.twitter.com/bObh14Gun5
— Anubha Upadhya (@ahbunaa) August 12, 2021
The funny part is, any agency creative director/photographer worth their salt would have googled what an Onam Sandhya consists of. Pretty much every tier-1/tier-2 city will have at least one malayali eatery which could provide the sambhar, parippu, kootucurry, thora/upperi etc.
— Sethu (@theSethu) August 12, 2021
Has no one from their team ever attended a sadhya before? If they had they would never have done this. Moral of the story: Don’t use cultures you don’t know the basics of. https://t.co/UAxbIybz7w
— Neha Kapoor (@PWNeha) August 12, 2021
The collection name “Cottons Jaipur” they be like: “arey yaar suit tho design kardiye, lekin kele ki patte pe kya lagaaye?
Arey tension kyu? South hai naa, idlee saambhar, DoughSaw wahi hoga”— ಅಭಿನಯ್ Wear Mask (@abhirushi) August 12, 2021
I cannot even begin pointing out the stuff that is wrong in this elai… but the greedy part of me is like – ok fine it’s food. Can eat it. https://t.co/qbVE0UmWMe
— Swathi Rishi (@Swathirishi) August 13, 2021
I have no objection to them wearing whatever they want, but shalwar kameez doesn’t become “Onam dress” just by being white with gold frills. https://t.co/wuTfBDzZYD
— Anil Das (@dasanil) August 12, 2021
That's not a Sadya. Is just sad ya https://t.co/GGGvTwFrHD
— Sandeep Sarma (@sandeep9sarma) August 13, 2021
After facing backlash, the brand deleted the picture and issued an apology. Have a look:
Weak ass private apology ass well. pic.twitter.com/bqo1U9Eoq5
— Sethu (@theSethu) August 12, 2021
What are your views on this incident? Tell us.