Mahabali comes to BIMTECH

Mahabali comes to BIMTECH

9 August 2014, BIMTECH, Greater Noida

Onam celebrations were in full swing yesterday, 8 August, at Birla Institute of Management Technology (BIMTECH), Greater Noida as students and teachers gathered together to observe the harvest festival of the South Indian state of Kerala.

Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala’s rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali’s annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory.The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. The celebrations begin within a fortnight of the Malayalam New Year and go on for ten days. All over the state of Kerala, festive rituals, traditional cuisine, dance and music mark this festival. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and verve. Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports organised on the day.

The celebrations at BIMTECH began early in the morning, with a pookkalam (floral carpet) competition. The Onapookalam is made out of the gathered blossoms with several varieties of flowers of differing tints pinched up into little pieces to serve the decorator’s purpose. It is considered a work of art accomplished with a delicate touch and a highly artistic sense of tone and blending, similar to the Rangoli in North India. Several students and faculty were also present in the traditional Kerala attire of saree and mundu.

Lunch was a special occasion at BIMTECH that day, with dishes from the traditional onam meal, also known as the Onam Sadhya, which is an indispensable part of the celebration, being featured in the menu like Sambar- a lentil based vegetable stew, Avial- a coconut based vegetable dish, palada pradhaman- a dessert made with milk, rice and sugar, kerala pickle, banana chips and pickle.

The evening celebration was marked by the lighting of the traditional lamp by the Director, deputy Director and other members of the staff. The celebrations concluded with the Shingari Melam, a percussion group performance by C.K Marar and troupe, which is traditionally performed in temples in Kerala during the festive season.

BIMTECH always strives to establish unity and a sense of belonging among students from various parts of the country and the world as well. Thus festivals like Janmashtami, Pongal and Onam are annually celebrated by the institute for the same purpose.

Thanks & Regards,

Media Conduit
Birla Institute of Management Technology
Plot No. 5, Knowledge Park II,
Greater Noida (NCR)
Uttar Pradesh – 201 306

Contact no – 9873903678(Arun Tiwari)

9958506685( Gaurav Sharma)

7835893474(Vikas Somakumar)