Most of you know that my family is here for the Onam holidays. I’m terribly sorry for leaving without a notice (I wasn’t expecting it either). I was out with my family for the last two days to celebrate the festival. We just got back to my parent’s house & I better write about it when its fresh in my memory.

I was hoping to spend some time with my sister this season. She flew in last week (& no, Emily, her arms were not tired from flying). Just like always, when ever I expected some quality time at “home”, Dad (On leave from his work in Bahrain) booked hotel rooms and dinners at Cochin city (As days pass, I’m less and less informed of what goes on inside my parent’s house). I couldn’t say no to it since Onam was a “family thing”. So, there I was, sitting at the back seat with people who I have nothing in common with, going to some hotel, to sit around a table in a dimly lit room to celebrate another festival that I hate.

People say that Onam is one of the most beautiful & meaningful celebrations of the world. However, I’m ashamed about it. The story of Onam is something like this. There was this king named Bali in Kerala and Lord Vishnu reincarnated in human form, a dwarf called Vamana and stomped on King Bali’s head and pushed him under the ground to pathal; a term for hell in Malayalam; Kerala’s tongue. (note that Vamana grew so big that only his foot rested on planet earth). Apparently, “the gods” were annoyed that Bali was of Asura race (demons, demigods and stuff) . To add more insult to injury, the Hindu people here, BELIEVE it. My family is Christian and say that the Bali tale is is just a story (I’m glad they are not that stupid but why the hell are they celebrating it?) - An average Joe, hearing this story from a Hindu for the first time will obviously respond with “What the f***!? you believe that nonsense?” & THAT my dear friends, is why I’m ashamed to say that Kerala is my home land. You can read a non biased version of the legend of Onam here.

We often note that Atheists are the most tolerant ones. I’m following the examples of many tolerant ones before me and putting up with this nonsense. Then again, one can argue that Onam is about the festive moods and huge Sadyas & dinners. I consider that as just another excuse to cover up the totally idiotic origins of this festival.

For my family, this Onam was a grand success with everyone (except my brother) having that “family time”; While I sit a corner of the hotel room playing music at the highest volume that my ear drums can take. I never appreciated before how well my iPod blocks out everyone else’s voice. I found a few hours or so daily to get online when they were out shopping (like thats enough).

My Onam, was an utter disaster!! I was away from the computer & unable to help David. Dave was working alone on our new server on IMhosted & had to move all files and settings single handed. I had to get messenger via SMS from my Mobile to keep in touch with him. According to him, “IMhosted Blows!!“. The new host wasn’t what we had in mind. - So, He rolled us back to our old server. The websites (mine & his) were offline during the transition phase for several hours (who knows how long) but everything is just fine now. I apologize for any inconvenience it might have caused.

Ru.

[blog image(top): Found here. It looked like the hotel we were in ]