Served on a banana leaf, Onam Sadhya is a traditional vegetarian feast that marks the harvest festival with a celebration of abundance, community and togetherness. But in Bengaluru this year, the joy of sharing this meal comes with a rather hefty price tag.With restaurants across the city charging anywhere from ₹699 for a mini-thali to ₹2,000-plus for elaborate spreads, the question doing the rounds is simple: when did a humble festive feast start feeling like fine dining?What happenedBengaluru’s Onam Sadhyas this year range from around ₹649–₹899 for simpler offerings to ₹1,500–₹2,000 or more at premium hotels and restaurants. The higher-priced spreads often include additional courses, desserts and a more elaborate dining experience.The contrast has drawn attention because Sadhya is traditionally a communal, home-style feast served on a banana leaf, featuring rice, an assortment of curries, vegetables, pickles, payasam and other festive favourites. More than just food, it is an important part of Onam celebrations and is meant to bring people together over a generous spread.Why are diners upset? As diners call out prices as high as ₹899 for a single Sadhya, with some restaurant bills touching ₹2,000 or more, the city’s Onam spreads have triggered an online debate. One diner joked about the humble Sadhya becoming a ‘premium experience’ and compared the prices with Sadhyas in Kerala, which cost only around ₹200–₹300. Another quipped that it might be cheaper to simply travel to Kerala for an authentic meal. One diner also pointed out that some venues offered a fixed 1 to 1.5-hour slot, questioning whether diners were expected to rush through the experience, and whether it was worth the price at all.
