A French woman had Onam Sadhya for the first time, and she shared her experience in a now-viral post on X.
Julia Chaigneau, who moved to India nearly two years ago, says the decision remains one of the best she has ever made. Now settled into life here, she often shares her experiences, and food naturally takes centre stage.
“I don’t know how I survived 20 years of my life without Indian food! Today I went for Onam Sadhya for the first time. It was incredible with so many new, different flavours. I ate way too much, but no regrets – life is good. Now I can take a nap,” Julia wrote in the caption.
The Sadhya – a traditional Kerala feast usually served on banana leaves – is central to Onam celebrations. For Julia, the spread of curries, pickles, and payasam was not just a cultural introduction but also a reminder of why she feels at home in India.
Take a look at the viral post here:
Social media users soon flooded the comments section. “That’s the beauty of India. Whichever side you go, the food will always amaze you,” one of the users wrote.
“India is full of varieties of food, sweets, and people,” a user said, while another added, “Even looking at the pic makes my mouth water. Hope you have a great time enjoying it!”
“This is just one state. You have at least 20–25 more local cuisines to try. Would recommend Maharashtrian, Gujarati, and Punjabi as the top three,” a comment read.
See more reactions here:
For Julia Chaigneau, the banana leaf carried more than food – it carried a sense of belonging and showed how cuisine can bridge cultures with effortless ease.
– Ends