Onam festival

Last week we celebrated Onam festival. It is the most important festival in Kerala and it lasts 10 days. In a few words, the legend says that under the king Mahabali Kerala experienced a long period of peace and wealth. For a number of reasons (the story is very complicated and I only got some bits of it), the king was called to live with the Hindu gods. However, he was granted one wish from the gods and he wished to return to his kingdom once a year for 10 days. So during Onam the Keralites celebrate the return of their king. On this occasion Keralites wear the traditional Kerala clothes: white colour with a golden border.

At SISP school a team of teachers and students stayed up all night to decorate the whole school and prepare the stage. In the early morning I participated to the preparation of the Atham, a geometric decoration made with flower petals and natural products. It is common to see Athams on the street, in temples and at the entrances of the houses. SISP atham was made with several flower petals, coconut seeds and grated papaya dyed in green. At the center we put the coconut flower. It was the first time that I saw the coconut flower and it is beautiful: it looks like a little tree with seeds and small fruits. I love athams and I think that the one we made looked amazing!

Then in the morning a puja was made (hindu prayer) by lighting incense, oil and offering food to the gods. During the morning there were funny games for the children, while about 10 women worked in the kitchen (usually there are only 2 cooks) to provide a fabulous traditional Kerala-style lunch. It was served on banana leaves and we enjoyed rice with 2 curries, three pickles (mango, lime and ginger), several sauces, sweet paysam, small banana and banana chips.

In the afternoon we celebrated not one but three events: Onam, Teacher’s Day and the 18^th anniversary of the foundation of SISP.  Then it was show time! Children performed dances, short plays and singing. The last was a play by the teachers, which brought tears to our eyes for too much laughing!

It was a really enjoyable day, which I’m sure the children will remember for a long time.