About Onam
Onam marks the beginning of the Malayalam calendar. The harvest festival marks the return of King Mahabali to his beloved country (Keralam). Acording to our puranas, King Mahabali defeated the Devas and ruled all three worlds. He was a generous and wise leader, but the Devas started feeling insecure due to his popularity. They approached Lord Vishnu and requested him to help them. Therefore, Vishnu took his fifth avatar — the Brahmin dwarf Vamana.
Brahmin Vamana paid King Mahabali a visit. The generous King as him what he wished for and promised to grant him the same. Vamana requested “three pieces of land.” Then, he grew in size and covered the sky and the netherworld in his first and second steps. When Lord Vishnu’s fifth avatar was about to take his third step, King Mahabali offered his own head to God. Pleased by his sacrifice, Lord Vishnu granted King Mahabali to rule his kingdom till the end of Kalyuga and the right to visit his kingdom and people during Onam.
Agenda for Onam 2025
Venue: Hoover Theater.
11:00 AM: Check in & Registration
11:30 PM: Catered Sadya
2:00 PM: Cultural Program Starts
6:00 PM: Maithry Social Hour
7:00 PM: Conclusion and Clean-up