Month: September 2020

Onam is the grand annual festival of Kerala. It was on this day that the Vamana avatara or incarnation of Lord Vishnu visited King Mahabali, affectionately called ‘Maveli’ and gave him moksha or emancipation. According to the blessing of Lord Vishnu, every year King Mahabali visits his subjects in Kerala during the Onam festival, the main day of the festival being the day of Thiruvonam. On this occasion, elaborate flower decorations or flower rangolis are prepared. They are called ‘pookkalam’ in Malayalam. Though there were no grand celebrations in the ashrama due to the Covid-19 pandemic the pookalams were made by the employees and devotees.