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nam is a famous festival of Kerala. It falls during the month
House Celeb R a T ions of ‘Chingam’ according to the Malayalam calendar. According
to the Gregorian calendar, it generally falls in the month of
OAugust or September. This festival commemorates the Vamana
avatar of Lord Vishnu and subsequent homecoming of the legendary King
Mahabali. Keralites celebrate this festival unitedly without any difference
of caste and religion. This year, the team of Acharya Vinoba Bhave
House teachers decided to put up an Onam presentation in the morning
assembly. I was thrilled on being told that I would be participating in
this assembly. Of course, it’s always a privilege to perform in front of all
teachers and students but this time it was more special. I was born in
Kerala and am a Keralite by origin. At home, I celebrate this festival every
year and here was my opportunity of celebrating it in school as well.
On morning of the programme, I dressed up in the traditional dress
of Kasav Pawada (South Indian skirt and blouse) worn by young girls in
Kerala. In the talent round, I played an Onam song on my synthesiser.
The song selected was an old famous harvest festival song sung by the
farmers of Kerala. This song was taught by my music teacher at the
church where I take keyboard classes every Sunday. I got a loud applause
from all the students in the hall and felt very happy. Next came up the
presentation on the Onam festival by the students of Acharya Vinobha
Bhave House. They spoke well on the various aspects of this festival
which included the mythological story according to which Lord Vishnu
disguised himself as a Brahmin and asked for 3
paces of land from King Mahabali. On the third
step, Lord Vishnu kept his foot on Mahabali and
acharya Vinoba bhave sent him to ‘Patala’ or the netherworld with the
haheed Bhagat Singh permission that once a year he could come to visit
House presented a play his people. King Mahabali’s request was granted
on Akbar Birbal in the House and that day is celebrated as Onam or the harvest
Smonth of July. I was festival. Students also spoke about the traditional
given the opportunity to play Thiruvathira and Kathakali dances, Pookalam
Birbal’s role. He was one of (flower arrangement), snake boat race and the Onam Sadhya. The audio
the wise men in Akbar’s court. and video presentation was wonderful and it gave a real- life like feel to
The play was about Birbal’s the entire show. My parents had also come to see me perform and they
belief that “Whatever happens, liked the idea that the school was celebrating Onam festival in the school
happens for the good”. We assembly.
depicted a fable in which angela Mary Raynil, P4 D
an Akbar’s minister lost his
finger in an accident and was
very upset. Some days later,
the minister was caught by
tribals but got saved from
getting killed as his one of the
body parts was missing. From
then, he started to believe House Masters:
what Birbal believed. It was Ms. Malvika Dayal
a great learning experience Ms. Jasleen Kaur
and I thoroughly enjoyed the Ms. Amrita Vaid Singh
practice sessions and the final Ms. Poonam Khurana
performance. Ms. Sonia Sardana
Miraya Kwatra, P3 E
62 Sandesh 2016-17, Volume 1 Sandesh 2016-17, Volume 1
