K.A.Viswanathan
Mumbai: Onam the harvest festival of Kerala celebrated with great fervor since ancient times in honour of the homecoming of the noble and legendary King Mahabali, the grandson of Prahlada (an ardent devotee of Lord Vishnu ). Much of Kerala's culture is showcased during Onam festivities . Last year the festival was not celebrated due to floods in Kerala. People collected the money and used it for flood relief.
King Mahabali, who according to legend ruled the state once, under whom the people were equal, prosperous and happy. People believe that it was on this particular day of Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calender month of Chingam when Lord Mahavishnu took his fifth avatar as Vaamana, appeared in the kingdom of King Mahabali and sent him to the netherworld. According to legend, on Thiruvonam day the spirit of King Mahabali visits the people of Kerala.
The festivity of Onam is marked with a range of novel activities, music, worshipping and fascinating decorations such as Pookolam, a fancy and colourful floral pattern laid on the floor as a part of the ritual. Wearing new clothes and preparation of traditional feast called sadya is a part of celebration. Sadya is a lavish feast with twenty-one homemade curries and sweet payasam( keer) on plantain leaf.
All Keralites make it a point to buy new clothes and men wearing silk dhoti and ladies Kerala type off white sari called Pamundu, visit nearby Krishna temple. In Matunga they visit the 90 year old Kochu Guruvayoorappan temple. People stand in long que from early morning to get the glimpse of Lord Krishna idol in the temple. Malayalam association of the SIES College was celebrating on September 14 by arranging cultural dances.
