Ongole, September 23, 2013: The vibrant Malayalee community in Prakasam district recreated the God's own country at Kothapatnam to celebrate their traditional harvest festival Onam with pomp and grandeur on Sunday.

A large number of Malayalee families assembled for the celebrations which began with ‘Onapookalam’ (floral decoration).

The floral carpet was tastefully arranged with a variety of flowers by the women with their deft hands. Earthen mounds, representing the legendary king Mahabali and Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Mahavishnu, along with the Pookalam to invite the demon king from the Netherland as per his wish to see for himself the well-being of his subjects once in a year.

Wearing new clothes, they enjoyed sumptuous ‘sadaya' (feast) with over 15 curries, pickles, papadam and Payasam on the occasion.

Oppana, a dance form among the Mappila community, was the highlight among cultural programmes that followed which also included ‘Kaikottikalla’.

Malayalam Cultural Society president and Montessori Public School correspondent Prakash Babu said “we come together every year to celebrate our harvest festival cutting across religious lines though the festival had its origin in Hindu mythology''.

Source: The Hindu, September 23, 2013