Onam & Ramadan

Onam is here. May be I watched more TV this year, but Onam seems to be getting bigger and bigger every year. More crowds doing the 'Utrhradam Pachil', worlkd record breaking 'Pookalams', great boat races. Even got to see Pulikali and 'kalashakali' on TV, of course.

I did get to narrate the story of Onam to some arabs (where god is the 'villain') this year also. A fantastic story, but some doubts have cropped up over wheher Mahabali was a Malayalee. Seemingly, Mahabali (the son of Hrinyakashyap and grandson of Prahalad) was conducting the Aswamedha Yagam on the banks of Narmada, when Vishnu in the form of Vamana appeared asking for alms. The rest is history. But why did Mahabali travel all the way to the banks of Narmada for the Yaga. Or is the legend of Mahabali brought to Kerala by the migrating Nairs?

Personally, Dinesh and I had an excellent sadhya on the uthradom day with Bala and Shobhana and on Thiru Onam day, we had our company Iftar at Emirates Palace hotel, one of the most expensively built hotels in the world. The hotel is entirely golden themed. But some how did not excite me to much. A bit too dull for an Indian used to more colour and drama. Ha!

                              

And finally here is our parliament seen from a fresh angle, which I feel is much more impressive.