Onam Sadya packs a big hit

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsOn a rainy Thiruvonam day, with almost all the hotels remained closed, the packed  ‘Onam Sadya’ prepared by the inmates of Poojapura Central Prison provided  relief to more than 1,000 people in the city who couldn’t arrange a ‘sadya’ on their own. Some of them were passengers, who had set out to their relatives’ homes, but couldn’t reach there before lunch and some others were city dwellers who decided to stay back rather than going to their native places for celebrating Onam. Around 1000 kits, each priced at Rs 30 and comprising 11 dishes from ‘sambar’ to banana chips and even a plantain leaf, were sold out immediately.The dishes, which were prepared by 60 inmates, were packed in kits and transported to various crowded places in the city in three vehicles. The public surged the Medical College campus, General Hospital, Secretariat premises, Railway station and East Fort to buy the kits. The sales began at 11 a.m. and the last kit was sold just an hour later. The public appeared more than satisfied by this service- minded gesture of the prison inmates.“The food had a homely taste and was hygienic also. Nowadays it is difficult for laymen to have Onam Sadya from a moderate hotel as that would cost from Rs 150 to Rs 300. The decision to provide sadya at a cheap rate is laudable,” said Ajayakumar, a hawker at Chalai market.But for the prison officials, there was another intention behind the move to provide Onam Sadya kit at this cheap rate.“Earlier the public had a contempt for the prison inmates. We felt that mentality should change. Production of chappathi and chicken curry was the first step. Now with the sadya, the aversion of the public towards prisoners have changed considerably. The prisoners actually require compassion, not aversion,” Central Prison superintendent B Pradeep said.The sale of the Onam Sadya kit was inaugurated by cine artiste Sona Nair at the entrance of the central prison.first published:August 31, 2012, 12:10 ISTlast updated:August 31, 2012, 12:10 IST 
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