HUEWINE

Onam is a traditional festival celebrated in the southern Indian state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival that marks the return of the mythical King Mahabali, who is believed to visit Kerala during this time to see the well-being of his subjects. The story of Onam is deeply rooted in Hindu mythology and has several variations, but one of the most popular versions of the Onam story is as follows:

Once upon a time, there was a benevolent and virtuous king named Mahabali. He was a great ruler and his reign was known for its prosperity and harmony. The people of Kerala loved and respected King Mahabali immensely. His rule was so just and fair that it became a threat to the gods in the heavens, particularly Lord Indra, the king of the gods.

Jealous of Mahabali's popularity and fearing that his power would overshadow theirs, the gods approached Lord Vishnu, one of the principal deities in Hinduism, for help. Lord Vishnu took the form of a dwarf Brahmin named Vamana and descended to Earth.

One day, Vamana came to the court of King Mahabali, who was known for his generosity. Vamana, disguised as a humble Brahmin, requested a small piece of land as a gift. Mahabali, being a generous and noble king, agreed to grant his request. Vamana then made an unusual proposal. He said that he would measure out the land he wanted in three steps and asked Mahabali to promise that he would give him exactly as much land as he could cover in three steps.

Onam.

King Mahabali agreed, not realizing the true identity of Vamana, and the dwarf Brahmin suddenly transformed into a colossal figure. With his first step, Vamana covered the entire Earth, and with his second step, he covered the heavens. Now, Mahabali understood that Vamana was no ordinary Brahmin but Lord Vishnu himself.

Ut repellat blanditiis est dolore sunt dolorum quae.

Realizing that he could not fulfill his promise, Mahabali bowed down and offered his own head for the third step. Lord Vishnu, pleased by Mahabali's humility and devotion, placed his foot on Mahabali's head, pushing him down into the underworld, known as Patala.

Before being sent to the underworld, Mahabali requested one last wish. He asked Lord Vishnu for permission to visit his beloved subjects in Kerala once a year. Lord Vishnu granted his wish, and this annual visit by King Mahabali is celebrated as the festival of Onam.