This is with reference to P.S. Rai’s article on Bali (DV, Aug. 1-15, 90). He says that * The Onam festival which the Keralites celebrate every year is also in honour of the great and good King Bali.” It is not correct. The festival s related to his death. Another name is Maveli.
It is said that Maha Bali (Maha Bali means” great sacrifice”) was the emperor of Kerala. During his reign there was no caste discrimination, no evil deeds and no economic inequality. The Kerala people used to sing a song about his reign. It is like this: “When Maveli was ruling the country the whole people were one”. It shows that there was no discrimination during his rule. The Aryans became jealous and decided to kill him. Thus, they made a trap to cheat him. The – ~ Aryan god, Vishnu, came as Vaman (dwarf Brahmin) and begged Emperor Maveli for “three steps of land”. When Vaman was allowed to take, he is said to have covered the whole earth and skies with his two strides and asked Maveli where to place his third step. At last, Maveli offered him his own head and the wily Vaman stepped on his head, pushed him to the Patal (hell). For all that Vaman was allowed to come back to his region for one single day in a year. This is the story. Actually, it was the day of ‘Bali’ (sacrifice) of our great emperor.
Whatever it be, it shows that there was a clash between Aryans and Adi-Dravidas. Upton this incident, the Aryans enslaved the original inhabitants of India and manipulated their mind through brahminism. Thus, the Dalits were forced to have a feast to remember this Maha-Bali. In fact, it was the victory of Aryans over the Adi-Dravidas. Thus, they lost all properties and became the slaves of Aryans. So, Onam is the Dalit Voice festival of Aryans to remember their victory over Dalits. Dalits are just imitating their ruling class, because these Aryans manipulated their mind. So that Dalits – also celebrate Onam. Why should Dalits celebrate Onam to remember the death of their good emperor? The Dalits must shed tears on that day because after this incident Dalits became the slaves of Aryans. Moreover, the Brahmins say that “We must sell our land to celebrate Onam®. It is a trap. If we sell our land to celebrate Onam, certainly we will fall down further and they can have the resist of our lands. This is the cunning point of Onam. In Kerala, Dalit workers do not celebrate Onam. Because they deeply mourn their long-lost good emperor.
According to brahminical literature Vamana is fifth incarnation of Vishnu and Parasurama is sixth. But they say that Parasurama made Kerala. If Vamana came before Parasurama, how can we believe that Parasurama made Kerala? Because before Parasurama came, Vamana was there. Then they say Parasurama made Kerala. Then there must be two Kerala’s. Where is one Kerala? It is one of the Riddles in Hinduism. This story is actually the clash between Aryan invaders and Adi-Dravidas. But Aryans colored it.
