News & Pics: Devis & Mahesh
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SB)

Mangalore, Aug 24: The nostalgic and colourful feast of Onam once again bloomed in the courtyard of St  Joseph Seminary, Jeppu.

The staff and students headed by the Malayasa Samajam came together to celebrate the feast and to pay tribute to the legendary King Mahabali. Brothers from the different corners of India get involved in the splendid Onam celebrations proved once more that Onam cut across all linguistic and cultural barriers.

The celebration began with the preparation of the beautiful Onapookalam on Sunday August 22 to launch a symbolic royal reception to Mahabali who is believed to visit the land of Kerala on this glorious Onam day. Brothers got around to make the flower carpet beautiful. Later on the day, a prayer service was held led by Dn Jossy Kurisinkal highlighting the relevance and values that Onam brings home.

After the prayer service preparations were held for ‘Onasadhya.

The dawn of Onam on Monday August 23 was marked with the celebration of the Holy Mass in the Syrian rite presided over by Fr Jomon Sankoorickal, an ex-Josephite and concelebrated by Frs Gilbert, Josey,
Clifford and Jerome. Dn Shanoj shared the Word of God. After the mass, there was the releasing
ceremony of ‘Punchiri’ (the Smile), the annual literary magazine of Malayalam academy. Fr Joseph
Martis, the rector of the seminary released the magazine.

There was also a vibrant reception of the legendary king Mahabali and Vamana at the end of the mass with chendamelam and the old folk songs, ‘Maveli Nadu Vanidum Kalam…’, . Fr Vincent Sequeira inaugurated the Onakalikal. The onasadhya that comprised 16 dishes was served on the plantain leaves as it is ritual during the festival.