Onam is regarded as the harvest festival of Kerala, a festival that heralds prosperity and abundance to the land. It is a tribute to the legendary king Mahabali, during whose reign, it is said, Kerala witnessed a golden era, based on equality and brotherhood, free from crime and poverty, sickness and misery. It is believed that the king visits the land once every year to inquire into the well-being of his subjects.

The festival was duly celebrated this year on Sunday, 30th August at M.A.Math, Mumbai, with enthusiastic participation by devotees from all parts of the city. The festivities were marked by a distinct traditional touch, from the beautifully colored pookalam(Rangoli designs using flower petals), the ‘Kai kotti kali’, (a celebrative dance form) by the women devotees, to the ‘Ona sadhya’, the lunch comprising various delicacies, served on plantain leaves.

After the chanting of the Ashtotthram and the Bhagvad Gita(Chapter 15), devotees got together to participate in the ‘Ona sadhya’. An atmosphere of joy and merriment was blended with devotion and peace, as a Tamil film based on the life of the great saint Swami Raghavendra was screened. The celebrations concluded with a bhajan session and the Maha Arati.