by a Thinker, Sailor, Blogger, Irreverent Guy from Madras

Wish everyone a Happy Onam


Though on the eve of Kerala’s most important festival, the BJP president’s greeting has people in the state up in arms, it is time to wish everyone, especially the people of Kerala, a Happy Onam.

Onam is a major festival in Kerala commemorating the homecoming of the mythological figure Mahabali. Mahabali, also known as Maveli, was an Asura king, under whose rule, according to the dominant belief connected with the festival, the people lived in utmost prosperity and were treated equally. The success of Mahabali as a good and powerful ruler made even the ‘Devas’ envious of him, prompting Vishnu taking on the form of Vamana, a Brahmin boy, one of his avatars, and approaching Mahabali. The mythological story says Vamana cunningly ended the rule of Mahabali, a King the people loved. But it is believed that the King would come from the nether world to visit his people annually. So people make their best preparations to receive their beloved King, according to the popular belief. Interestingly, though connected to Hindu mythology, Onam is observed and celebrated by a section of Christians and Muslims in the state. Flower carpet and Onam special lunch are some of the most popular and secular forms of Onam celebrations in which Keralites, irrespective of their faith, often participate. (this para shamelessly copied from thewire.in article on the subject).

Leaving aside the controversies, for which the BJP is famous for, what does one do, when wakes up early in the morning and cannot go back to sleep.  Such was today, when I woke up at around 04:00 AM and could not go back to sleep.

Then the brainwave.  A poo-kolam or kolam with flowers on the occasion of Onam.  Here is the snapshot of the first amateur try at poo-kolam.

happy-onam-poo-kolam

Tags:

2 comments:

  1. Sir, this year we were eagerely waiting for the mahalaya paksha mantram like last year but did not see any download file except it is shown there in the download folder. would appreciate if you can send the same urgently and oblige. thanks

    ReplyDelete

Support - Donate

Your Blog is

Donate thro ECWID

Contact Form