The Asian School Celebrates Onam

Manama: The Asian School staff celebrated the Indian harvest festival Onam on Saturday amidst much fanfare. The celebration started with the setting up of the traditional flower decoration called ‘pookalam’ and the lighting of the lamp. The main attraction of the event was the ‘Payasamela’, for which the teachers had prepared a wide and tempting array of the sweet dish ‘payasam’ using different and unique ingredients such as jackfruit, dates, carrots,pumpkin, oats, banana, pineapple, mango and apple among other traditional ones such as vermicelli, lentils, rice etc.

The staff sang traditional Onam songs, performed the ‘Thiruvathira’ dance and played customary Onam games which set an overall mood of festive fun and was thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. It is one of the rarest festivals which is celebrated by a complete State, irrespective of religion, caste and creed.

Kerala’s rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall in the month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali’s annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali (locally known as Maveli)has been revered by the people of Kerala. The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated.