Living in Bengaluru in a nuclear Malayali family, actor Sruthi Hariharan always makes sure to uphold their traditions, even if it means celebrating with just her husband, Raam Kumar, and daughter Janki. She fondly recalls her childhood memories of attending Onam celebrations at the East Cultural Association, where she savored the delicious sadhya. Sruthi expresses her love for traditional dishes like payasam, aviyal, and sharkara upperi. She emphasizes the importance of sustainability, particularly in her preference for aviyal due to its zero-waste nature. Sruthi, who married into a Malayali family, shares that Onam celebrations have gained more significance post-marriage, with rituals like making a pookalam, cooking a sadhya, and visiting a temple on the tenth day. She and her husband, Raam, are dedicated to passing down their cultural values to their daughter, Janki, who loves participating in the festivities by helping with the pookalam and learning Kaikottikali. However, being a nuclear family in a bustling city comes with its challenges."We strive to keep our daughter connected to our traditions and culture," says Sruthi, emphasizing the importance of exposing their daughter, Janki, to their cultural heritage. While they encourage Janki to participate in their traditions, they also believe that ultimately, it will be her choice to carry them forward. Sruthi, who resides away from Kerala, stresses the significance of Janki staying true to their roots. Despite this distance, they aim to provide Janki with an understanding of the traditions they grew up with. According to Sruthi, the essence of celebrating Onam lies in being with loved ones. When asked about her love for cooking a sadhya at home, Sruthi expresses that it is all about preparing food for loved ones and sharing an intimate and special meal on a special occasion.