Ather Energy Faces Backlash After Adding Chapatti To Onam Sadhya, Users Ask ‘Why Ruin It?’

Ather Energy, an electric two-wheeler manufacturer, organised a special Onam celebration at the office for its employees. However, the celebration turned into an online controversy after a social media post revealed the inclusion of “chapatti” in the Onam Sadhya. In the post shared on X (formerly Twitter) by the company’s co-founder Tarun Mehta, one of the images shows “chapatti” as part of Sadhya leading to the ire of many social media users. The post has garnered nearly 1.5 lakh views and several comments by users, who expressed their disappointment over the meal. Some of them quipped, “There’s a limit.”

“Onam at Ather office today! Onashamsakal!” Tarun wrote in caption.

Take a look at post here:

Sadhya, a grand feast featuring multiple courses like sambhar, rasam and served on banana leaves, is traditionally eaten with rice. Quickly pointing this out, a social media user said, “Chappathi instead of rice in sadya… Please stay away….”

Sharing the frustration, another said, “Why? Just have your own meals no? Why take something authentic and ruin it? No one would have had a problem if you guys had got North Indian meal box for everyone! Harvest festival after all.”

“Much as I love it when non-Malayalis celebrate Onam, I really must draw the line at rotis as part of sadya. Pliss stop this madness!” someone else remarked.

An individual added, “This is a random meal served on a leaf. Invoking the powers vested in me, I disqualify this as a Sadya!”

Sharing the photo of Sadhya, another user commented, “Tarun Mehta Well this is onam sadhya.! Why chapathi instead of rice.”

An X user chimed in with, “Chapati in an Onam sadhya. That’s a first!” and another commented, “Poverty ridden onam Sadiya – there should be at least 28 dishes, also chapati shouldn’t be there.”

Onam, also called Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam, is celebrated as the annual harvest festival in Kerala. The 10-day festival is a socially active time for families and communities. This year, Onam commenced on September 5 and will conclude on September 15. The festival holds deep cultural significance as it marks the homecoming of the mythical king Mahabali, who is believed to bring prosperity and happiness to the people.