Living in a nuclear Malayali family in Bengaluru, actress Sruthi Hariharan strives to uphold their traditions by marking occasions with her husband, Raam Kumar, and daughter Janki. Reflecting on her childhood memories of celebrating the annual Onam festival at the East Cultural Association in Bengaluru, Sruthi fondly recalls indulging in the traditional sadhya feast, where the flavors still linger in her memory. She cherishes the payasam, aviyal, and sharkara upperi as integral parts of the Onam sadhya. Emphasizing her commitment to sustainability, Sruthi shares her love for aviyal, a dish born out of using leftover vegetables, which aligns with her ethos of zero-waste practices.

Following her marriage to Raam, a member of a typical Malayali family, Sruthi has amplified their Onam celebrations. They adorn their home with a pookalam, prepare a traditional sadhya on the tenth day, visit a temple, and bond over the festivities. Through these traditions, Sruthi and Raam endeavor to instill their cultural values in their daughter, Janki, who eagerly participates in the preparations, such as assisting with the pookalam and learning aspects of Kaikottikali. Despite being a nuclear family in an urban setting, they strive to preserve their culture and heritage with each passing celebration.Sruthi emphasizes the importance of keeping her daughter connected to their traditions and culture. While they ensure that their daughter, Janki, observes and takes part in their customs, they also want her to have the freedom to decide whether to continue them in the future. Sruthi's main objective is to introduce Janki to the heritage her parents have cherished. Despite living away from Kerala, Sruthi believes it is crucial for Janki to stay rooted in their traditions. She values the opportunity for her daughter to witness and participate in their customs, while acknowledging that Janki will ultimately have the choice to embrace and carry them forward. An essential part of their family celebrations is preparing a sadhya at home, which Sruthi sees as a meaningful way to share a special meal with loved ones on important occasions like Onam.