26 August,2026 05:29 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Richa Chadha and daughter at temple in Kerala. Pics via special arrangement
Richa Chadha gave her Onam 2026 celebrations a thoughtful twist this year as she marked the festival with her daughter Zuneyra at the Gurupuram Sree Maha Vishnu Temple in Kerala. The actor attended a special ceremony at the temple, where she presented a life-size mechanical elephant, Gurupuram Arjunan, as an alternative to using a live elephant during festivities.
Dressed in a traditional white-and-gold sari, Richa was accompanied by Zuneyra, who wore a traditional Onam outfit. For the actor, the celebration was as much about introducing her daughter to India's cultural traditions as it was about finding a more compassionate way to preserve them.
Richa described being part of the celebrations in person as "a very special feeling", adding that having her daughter alongside her made the occasion even more meaningful.
"We got a special Onam dress made for her to be dressed for the occasion. Our festivals, traditions are such an integral part of who we are," she said.
The actor also stressed that traditions can evolve without losing their essence. "I believe that embracing our culture also means understanding how we can carry these traditions forward with greater compassion, with the aid of technology," she added.
The ceremony included the unveiling of Gurupuram Arjunan, followed by a traditional Chenda Melam performance and Thiruvathira dance, bringing a festive energy to the temple celebrations.
For Richa, the mechanical elephant was more than a symbolic gift. She spoke about her admiration for elephants and the importance of allowing the animals to live freely in their natural surroundings.
"Celebrations should always include compassion. Elephants are such magnificent and intelligent beings," she said, adding that she was grateful that the temple trustees agreed to the gesture.
The actor also joined the festivities and shared an Onam Sadhya with those present. "For me, this was not simply about presenting an elephant to a temple; it was about being part of a cultural celebration, experiencing the warmth of the people, eating Onam Sadhya with them here and contributing in a small way to something that can have a larger impact," she said.
Richa hopes the gesture encourages more people to see that cultural traditions and compassion towards animals can coexist. For the actor, celebrating Onam with Zuneyra became a way of passing on traditions while also showing that those traditions can find kinder, more thoughtful expressions. Richa Chadha also recently received flak for her comments on senior citizens.
