Article in mouthpiece claims festival celebrates birth of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation and not homecoming of demon king Mahabali
According to the popular belief, Mahabali’s homecoming in the month of Chingam is celebrated as ‘Thiru Onam’ annually. Representation pic/AFP
Thiruvananthapuram: As Keralites gear up to celebrate Onam, RSS has triggered a controversy by questioning the legend behind the festival, arguing that it marks the celebration of birth of ‘Vamana’ (incarnation of Lord Vishnu) and not the homecoming of demon king Mahabali.
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An article in the Onam special edition of RSS mouthpiece ‘Kesari’ claimed there was no reference in any mythological scriptures, which supports the popular and widely circulated legend that Vamana had sent Mahabali to the netherworld through deceit and the king visits the land annually to meet his subjects. Countering the argument, senior CPI (M) leader and state Health Minister KK Shylaja said Onam was celebrated by all irrespective of caste, creed and religion and the attempt of the RSS was to bring back the bygone “upper class hegemony.” It was also a part of RSS’s agenda to “hijack the festival,” the minister alleged.
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