Onam today, Keralites ready to welcome King Mahabali

BHOPAL: The 10-day Onam festival celebrated by Keralites will culminate with Thiruvonam on Wednesday. On the occassion, Malayalees cutting across religious lines, get together to welcome the benevolent King Mahabali, who according to mythology is believed to visit every year to inquire the well-being of his people.
Being a harvest festival and a family affair, on Thiruonam it's mostly a family affair with families confined to their homes and attending to guests serving traditional Onam Sadhhya- a feast involving traditional delicacies cooked with vegetables and spices from Kerala and payasam- sweet dish.
Malayalee associations will be holding various programmes through the week to commemorate Onam with community feast and cultural programmes.
General Secretary of South Bhopal Kerala Samajam Raghuvaran Pillai shared believes and reason behind celebrating Onam. He said according to myths Thriuvonam is the most important day for Malayalees, who belive the their belowed king Mahabali would come to their house. All the houses are decorated and preparation of food items is done in anticipation of his visit.
Wednesday, begins with pooja for Lord Vamana, a descendant of Lord Vishnu, he said.
Celebrations begin early in the morning. People clean their house, apply rice flour batter and floral petals on the floor on the main entrance (a traditional welcome sign), take an early bath, wear new clothes and distribute alms to needy. The eldest female member of each family presents clothes to all the members of the family. Special prayers are organized in temples, churches and mosques that highlight the secular nature of festival. The pookkalam (flower-based Rangoli) is prepared to welcome Mahabali.
Retired school principal NUK Menon said the increasing number of associations in the city have only divided the people which is just contrary to the spirit of festival as Onam basically means togetherness.
There are over 30 Malyalee associations in the city, according to Menon there were just three associations working for 40 years when he shifted to Bhopal for his studies. Although now the festival is celebrated at a large scale the new generation is hardly aware about the tradition and festival.