_*Our ONAM! – By M E Cherian*_ (Please Read)... Kerala is decked and prepared to celebrate thiru Onam. For Keralites, not just in Kerala but the world over, Onam celebrations are important. We can say that Onam is not a festival of a particular religion but that of a region. Regardless of caste and creed, all malayalis celebrate Onam. It has become a unifying factor among malayalis. Although, all the "religions" now celebrate Onam, it does have its background from "Hinduism". It is said, many centuries ago, a righteous king called Mahabali ruled over Kerala. In his days there was plenty. People mutually loved each other. There was no corruption, untruth nor was there violence in his land. The devas (gods) were jealous of this. They devised a scheme. One of the devas decided to come to king Mahabali in the form of a poor monk seeking help. When the king asked what he wants, the poor monk responded that he needs three steps of land. The monk then transformed and