Living in a nuclear Malayali family in Bengaluru, Sruthi Hariharan, an actor, strives to uphold their traditions, even if it means celebrating with only her husband, Raam Kumar, and daughter, Janki. She recalls her fond memories of attending the annual Onam event at the East Cultural Association during her childhood in Bengaluru. Sruthi particularly cherishes the taste of the sadhya served there, with payasam, aviyal, and sharkara upperi being her favorite dishes. She appreciates the sustainability aspect of aviyal, created using leftover vegetables, which aligns with her values.

Sruthi emphasizes the significance of Onam celebrations in her life since marrying Raam, expressing how the festivities have expanded. They ensure to mark the occasion by creating a pookalam at home, preparing and sharing a sadhya, and visiting a temple together on the tenth day. Through these traditions, she and Raam are consciously passing down their cultural heritage to their daughter, Janki. Despite being a nuclear family in an urban setting, Janki eagerly participates in the celebrations by assisting with the pookalam and learning Kaikottikali, a Kerala folk dance.Sruthi emphasizes the importance of passing down traditions and culture to her daughter, Janki, and her husband, Raam. They aim to expose her to their heritage while allowing her the freedom to choose whether to continue these traditions in the future. Despite living away from Kerala, it is crucial to Sruthi that Janki remains connected to her roots. The essence of celebrating Onam, for Sruthi, lies in sharing a special meal with loved ones on this auspicious day.