Rain-hit Kerala marks grim Onam

 Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, is celebrated with great pomp across the state, but this time around festivities will be the last thing on people’s minds as they come to grips with the devastation caused by the unprecedented deluge that claimed over 400 lives.

The festival commemorates the return of mythical demon king Mahabali to see his beloved subjects at the beginning of ‘Chingam’, the first month of the Malayalam Calendar.

The mythical ruler is traditionally welcomed with a carpet of flowers, popularly known as pookalam, in front of houses, and ‘Onam Sadyas’ (feasts) and people turn out in new attire.

The fest is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm by people across communities.

However, in the fortnight leading to the festival, the state has been savaged by the worst rains in a century leading to several people being killed, houses destroyed and over ten lakh lodged in relief camps.

Water is yet to recede in several places and hundreds of houses are still submerged.