Diocesan News Releases
News From Madhya Kerala Diocese
By
Sep 21, 2006, 12:33

News From Madhya Kerala Diocese
 

Dear friends in the companion diocese.

Seasonal Greetings to you all.

Today is Onam for Kerala people. It is festival of Kerala People. Wherever they are they celebrate Onam. It is based on a mythic story that there was a very just King called Mahabali. Due to his fame even the gods were jealous of him. So the god came to him in the attire of a Brahmin sanyasi and asked for three feet of land to do thapus (meditation). The king granted the request not knowing that he is the chief god. Immediately the Brahmin measured heavens and all the earth with his two feet and he had no space for the third feet. The king who was just told the sanyasi to put the third feet on the king’s head and he was pushed down to the Seoul. Thus the cunning god defeated the just king.

The people liked the king so much and the king asked god to give him a chance to visit earth once a year. People believe that Mahabali visits his people every year on the Onam day. Surely it is a myth but Kerala people celebrate the visit of their just king commemorating the prosperous past days.

People make a lot of preparations for Onam. We have holidays for two days in relation with Onam.  While schools get one-week holidays. Climate will be very clear and warm. People will have their fields harvested before Onam. By celebrating Onam people commemorate the golden past. This is like that of a thanks-giving day in USA. There will be merry making all over. People purchase new clothes. Clean their compounds.

Among the rich people the Onam celebration does not make much difference because every day is ‘Onam’ for them.  But poorer section makes sure that they celebrate Onam. Special type of food is characteristic for Onam. It is to be vegetarian with curd, chips and sweetened fried items and payasam (pudding). People prefer to dine in banana leaves. Next time while you visit, let it be during Onam.

A Home for the homeless.
Madhya Kerala Diocese has put its step on another venture in connection with the 60th birthday celebrations of our bishop Thomas Samuel. The diocese has decided to construct 60 houses for 60 poor people. We have completed few and construction of the rest is on the way.

Bishop’s Overseas Visit.
Our bishop visited Kula Lumpur during the second half of August to attend the Synod executive meeting. At present Bishop Thomas Samuel and Mrs. Lilly Thomas are visiting USA and Canada. They will be back at the end of September.  

Greetings to you all once again

Yours in Christ

Rev. Dr. Sam T. Mathew
Director of Ecumenical Relations
Bishop’s Chaplain