Welcoming King Mahabali: Onam '08

Onam is celebrated to mark the homecoming of King Mahabali. It is the day when a grateful Kerala pays glorious tribute to the memory of this benign king who gave his all for his subjects. Each year, Amrita observes all the traditional customs in the schools—the Trivadrakali, floral decorations, classical and folk dance performances, music recitals, cultural pageants, water carnivals—all actively participated by the students and staff together.

Budding musicians....		Staff taking their turn....

This year proved no exception. Preparations for the day had started days in advance. Students rushing to class after practice, teachers inventing dance steps, volunteers charting out the schedule and venue... The days leading to the festival were spent indeed in a blur of busy activity.

The program started with an invocation to the divine. Then the audience's attention was completely won over by an excellent rendition of classical music by students, remarkable considering the age of the singers. Proving they are none the less, the staff also presented a really enjoyable series of songs.

Moving on, the program glided towards the most interesting part of the festivities - Games. It started off with a very sweet competition between the tiny tots for the Musical chair. Nobody could suppress the laughter seeing the little ones, scampering as fast as their tiny legs would carry them, vying with each other for a chair.

Quick, quick! Sit down now.... Stop it—that’s mine you are trying to catch!

This event had the audience in splits, for when a kid finding that her chair could fit her friend also, generously invited her to take a seat with her. Many a time the amused teachers had to patiently coax the kids to part with their dear friends.

The water carnival followed. Kids had to break pots filled with goodies hanging from a height, while water was continuously thrown upon them. Music in the background combined with the shrieks and laughter of children added a magical touch to the evening.

In the next event, the kindergarten kids had to jump up and catch cookies hung just a little above them. One kid, after successfully devouring her own cookie, must have liked it so much that she started jumping at her neighbor’s share also, sending riots of laughter among the onlookers.

Aiming sky high....

Then came the elder children’s turn. A competition for the best floral design was held with students stirring their creative instincts. It was a treat for the eyes to watch the young ones work as a team patiently, for hours on their knees. Suddenly the usually spacious school seemed too small owing to the crowd, with people not even associated with the school assembling to witness the competitions.

At the end of the day, as all the students assembled for the closing note, the Principal asked the reason behind the day’s celebration. As usual, there were a host of answers on the King Mahabali. In response, the students were asked, "You mean to say we celebrate a King who did not rule us, whom none alive now nor for thousands of years in the past has ever seen?"

This brought down a deep silence in the audience, who for a moment, gave thought on their activities of the day. The Principal continued, "We celebrate, not the person but the integrity he showed in getting ready to give his life for the sake of keeping his word. We celebrate his devotion to his duty of keeping his subjects happy. We appreciate his humanity, when for a boon, he asked for a chance to come and visit his subjects every year to be assured of their well being. We celebrate not his individual glories, but the devotion he had over his duty."

Some of the floral designs....

‘"There are people who we wish to forget. And there are some whom we just cannot forget. King Mahabali, for his qualities, comes in the later category. From him we can imagine the impact a soul is capable of making. A soul that lived ages ago has the potential of inspiring innumerable generations with goodness. Deeds live on, if not the person."

The Principal ended with, "Be careful of what you do. What you do determines what you are remembered for. Who knows, one of you might just end up ruling us all tomorrow!"