Ather Energy gets flak for serving chapatti in Onam Sadhya: 'There's a limit'

Ather Energy, the electric two-wheeler manufacturer, has drawn criticism online after a post of its Onam celebration at the office went viral. In the pictures, the company’s co-founders Tarun Mehta and Swapnil Jain, were seen in traditional Kerala attire, the mundu. An image also showed all the employees indulging in a festive Onam Sadhya. However, the inclusion of chapatti in the traditional meal led to widespread backlash from netizens.

The post, shared by Mehta on X, showed employees celebrating Onam with a Sadhya, a feast served on banana leaves, which is an integral part of the festival. Onam is Kerala’s biggest cultural festival, marking the return of the mythical king Mahabali. The Sadhya, consisting of an elaborate vegetarian meal with dishes like avial, sambar, and payasam, is a key highlight of the celebrations.

Comments on X quickly turned critical, as users pointed out the glaring inconsistency: chapatti, a staple in northern India, does not belong in the traditional Sadhya. One user remarked, “If that is a chapatti, then the rest of my life is dedicated to taking down this company. Apologies, you seem like nice people. But there is a limit. And you have crossed it.”

Others expressed dismay at the deviation from tradition, stating, “Much as I love it when non-Malayalis celebrate Onam, I really must draw the line at rotis as part of Sadhya. Please stop this madness!”

In addition to the chapatti controversy, some users took note of the way the mundu was tied, claiming that both founders had tied it on the left side, a style more common among Tamils.  “Malayalis tie the mundu on the right side. Why are both mundus tied on the left? This one looks readymade,” commented another user.