Mahabali-puram

A Sunday ago, I had a quiet Onam lunch with a warm Mallu family. Payassam, etekaappam, banana leaf et all. After a traditional welcome we settled down to have lunch. A neatly laid out banana leaf platter, with quantities that I knew I could never finish.
I stuffed myself and sat down to listen to one of the most reckoning stories of the bygone times- The reason why Onam is celebrated in Kerela. Its because its so relavant, that I need to narrate it here.

Long long time ago time ago, Kerela was ruled by a eutopic king called Mahabali. The prosperous kingdom of Kerela flourished under his rule. Not only did it flourish economically, but also spiritually. The legend goes that there were perfect people in his perfect kingdom. Everyone cared for the other, no one was ever poor and yes, people slept with their doors open.

Such was the goodness of his state that even GOD became jealous of the ruler. Such grew the jealousy that one day he descended on earth in the disguise of a poor bhikshu. He went to Mahabali and asked him only for three feet huge land. Mahabali asked him if that was all he needed and GOD asserted that he required nothing else. The ruler immediately asked god to take his steps anywhere on his kingdom and the land would be granted.

God contemplated and took the first step. His first step covered the entire Kerela, his second step covered the entire earth. GOD asked Mahabali where he should keep his third step since there was no space left now. Mahabali wasted no time and asked GOD to keep the third step on his head. Surprisingly, GOD did exactly what was told and Mahabali was sent to Patal-lok.

Before leaving however, Mahabali asked only for one wish- once in a year to be able to come out and visit his kingdom. Onam is celebrated as the day when Mahabali comes to look on the world and check its well-being.

It’s time Mahabali comes again. It’s time we call him…Mahabali please come and look us all up. Your kingdom is not the same anymore. We wait for you to come and transform the world into your kingdom- into your own Eutopia.