ONAM Celebrations 2015 at Sandiego,CA,USA

ONAM is one of the leading Festivals celebrated by the Malayalees Associations in San Diego,California USA every year. This year the celebrations were held on Saturday the 12th of September in the famous Performing Art center Auditorium of Rancho Bernardo High Cchool,Sandiego along with glittering Colorful Programmes performed by various family Members of Keralites of Kerala The highlights of the programme are depicted above. The Celebrations commenced with a grand Feast of Traditional Vegetarian Dishes including the most popular Palada Pradhaman.Large numbers of Malayalee Families participated in the Feast.Packed food was also arranged for those who could not attend due to unavoidable reasons The feast took more than 2 hours to conclude and there after around 2-15 PM the cultural programs were commenced. The programmes started with a traditional Welcome to the gathering by singing the famous song "Maveli naadu vannedum Kalam Manusharellarumonnu pole" Thereafter the famous King Mahabalivwas welcomed to the stage with traditional Chendamelam and conventional "Aarappu Vili" ( a welcome call to the graceful King with chanting and dancing ) The Mahabali was a very kind King ruled Kerala giving highest care and attention for the welfare of the people. However,the King being one belonged to the Asura clan ,the Devas got frightened by the tremendous popularity enjoyed by the king threatening the existence of Devas headed by Indra.Indra had to take the Help of Vishnu who assumed the form of a Vamana( a young Brahmin boy) .The Vamana approached the Generous king and requested for 3 feet of earth .The king readily agreed to the request of the Brahmin and allowed him to measure the earth according to his style.The Vamana then assumed the real Gigantic form of Vishnu and started measuring .The first two feets Covered the Earth and Heaven and there was no place for the third feet.So, in order to honour his word,the King Mahabali told the Vamana to keep his feet on his head to measure.Lord Vishnu who was pleased with the nature of the King ,before pushing him down to Patala allowed the King to visit his " Praja" once in every year .The day he visits Kerala is being celebrated as ONAM.There is a famous Temple in Thrikkakkara,Kochi called Vamana Temple. [for more details about the legend and the Temple please read my blog on " Mahakshetrams of Kerala- Vamanamurthy Temple,Thrikkakkara) Coming back to the Onam celebrations programme at Sandiego,the programme included Kaikootkkali by women,other Dances and various cultural and Skits of art forms related to Kerala The most attractive programme was by young girls welcoming Mahabali with flowers and graceful dances besides traditional Kaikottikkali. Every one departed with the wish of taking part to recollect and relish the sweet memories again nextYear and years to come. Sreedharan Mundanat 13th of September 2015