Some dates do more than mark time—they weave community. This September 5, we came together to celebrate Onam, Teachers’ Day, and Eid Milad-un-Nabi—three occasions from different traditions that share a single, luminous theme: gratitude. Gratitude for harvest and homecoming, for mentors who shape our minds, and for a life of compassion and service exemplified by the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).
What follows is a reflection on the spirit behind each celebration and how we honoured them in a way that felt authentic, respectful, and deeply joyful.
Onam: A Harvest of Hope and Togetherness
Onam, Kerala’s beloved harvest festival, is a story, a season, and a feeling. It carries the legend of King Mahabali—the just ruler whose memory calls his people to unity and equality—and the joy of abundance after toil. We began our day by welcoming colleagues and friends with a pookalam—a vibrant floral carpet that grew petal by petal as everyone added a flower. That simple act turned bystanders into contributors; the design evolved not from a single hand, but from a community.
No Onam is complete without a Sadya, the traditional plant-based feast served on banana leaves. While we couldn’t recreate the full 26-dish spread, our menu leaned into the spirit of the Sadya: seasonal, diverse, and shared. Between bites of avial and payasam, conversations flowed—about home recipes, childhood memories, and the comfort of familiar flavours. We also embraced Onam’s playfulness through a friendly onathallu-style team challenge (think cooperative games rather than combat!) and a mini “Vallam Kali” trivia about Kerala’s famed boat races. The takeaway was clear: Onam is less about spectacle and more about the warmth of belonging.
Teachers’ Day: Honouring the Guides Who Light the Way
In India, Teachers’ Day on September 5 commemorates the birth anniversary of Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan—scholar, statesman, and educator who believed that great teaching awakens the power to think, not just the habit to remember. We dedicated this part of the celebration to gratitude in action.
A “Thank-A-Teacher” wall stood at the entrance, soon covered with handwritten notes to schoolteachers, coaches, professors, and mentors at work. Some messages were funny, some emotional, all heartfelt. We invited a few colleagues to share five-minute “teacher stories”—moments when someone’s patience or tough love changed their trajectory. Those stories reminded us that mentorship isn’t a job title; it’s a practice.
To make the gratitude tangible, we launched a Mentor-Match Month: a simple opt-in program pairing volunteers willing to mentor with learners seeking guidance. We also pledged a donation to a local education nonprofit—because honouring teachers also means widening access to learning.
Eid Milad-un-Nabi: Remembering Compassion as a Daily Practice
Eid Milad-un-Nabi (also known as Mawlid) marks the birth of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and is observed by many Muslim communities through prayers, recitations, and acts of charity. We approached this observance with humility and respect, focusing on the values that resonate across faiths: mercy, justice, and care for the vulnerable.
Our colleagues shared short reflections—seerat-inspired lessons on gentleness in speech, fairness in trade, and kindness to neighbours. We kept the program inclusive and non-ritualistic, inviting everyone to contribute to a community kitchen drive that funded hot meals for those in need. For many, the most moving moment was a quiet minute of intention: asking ourselves how we could carry compassion into the ordinary—emails, meetings, decisions—where character truly shows.
The Golden Thread: Gratitude, Guidance, and Giving
Celebrating three different occasions in one day could have felt crowded. Instead, it felt complete—like a three-strand braid, stronger together:
-
Onam reminded us to celebrate community and abundance, not as entitlement but as blessing.
-
Teachers’ Day called us to appreciate those who shape minds and to become better mentors ourselves.
-
Eid Milad-un-Nabi asked us to anchor our actions in compassion and service.
Across them all ran three shared practices:
-
Gratitude—for harvests seen and unseen, for teachers known and unsung, for the examples that call us higher.
-
Guidance—receiving it with humility and offering it generously.
-
Giving—beyond charity as an event, toward kindness as a habit.
Carrying the Celebration Forward
Festivals end. School bells stop ringing. Even special days pass. What remains are the habits we carry: sharing what we have, thanking those who guide us, and choosing kindness when it’s least convenient. If September 5 taught us anything, it’s that diversity is a gift when we meet it with curiosity, and unity is a choice when we practice gratitude.
Here’s to keeping the spirit of Onam’s togetherness, Teachers’ Day’s appreciation, and Eid Milad-un-Nabi’s compassion alive in our everyday work and relationships—long after the flowers fade and the plates are cleared.
Happy Onam. Happy Teachers’ Day. Eid Milad-un-Nabi Mubarak. May our homes, classrooms, and workplaces be places where everyone is seen, supported, and inspired to serve.
