The Story of Onam
Long, long ago in the city of Kerala...
The demon King Mahabali ruled the land. He was a kind and caring leader, loved by all of Kerala.
The gods grew jealous of King Mahabali.
“What do we do about this King? He is more loved than us!”
“Let’s visit Lord Vishnu! He will help!”
So, the gods ventured to the middle of the ocean where Vishnu sat on his serpent throne.
“Of course!,” said Vishnu.
“Can you please help us?,” the gods asked.
Suddenly, Vishnu transformed into a little boy!
Now disguised as a little boy, Vishnu visited King Mahabali in his palace.
“Dear child, how can I help you?,” asked the demon King.
“All I ask is for enough land that can be covered in three steps,” replied the boy.
“That’s all you want? Of course, I will grant your wish!”
But suddenly, the little boy grew bigger...
and bigger...
...until he was the size of the whole universe!
With his first step, the boy covered the entire Earth.
With his second step, he covered the rest of the universe.
Realizing Vishnu had nowhere else to step, the king said, “I cannot break my promise. Take your third step on my head.”
So, Vishnu placed his foot on King Mahabali‘s head and sent him to the netherworld.
But Vishnu was impressed by the King’s selflessness. “You may return to Kerala once a year, ” he told the king.
So, every year during the festival Onam, people celebrate the return of the beloved demon King Mahabali to Kerala!
~The End~
References:
(1) “Pookalam flower decoration mandala for the cover of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, May 1st 2024.
(2) “View of Kerala the city long ago filled with happy people in the style of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 26th 2024.
(3) “South Indian dark skinned King holding hands surrounded by happy Indian citizens ancient past in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 28th 2024.
(4) “Four Indian Hindu Gods having a conversation in a circle worried in the style of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 27th 2024.
(5) “Blue Hindu God Vishnu laying on a serpent throne in the ocean” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 27th 2024.
“Two Hindu Gods on their knees praying facing left” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 27th 2024.
Used Adobe Photoshop to merge into one image.
(6)“Bald Indian boy child with brown beaded necklace and simple white clothes in ancient India in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 29th 2024.
(7) “Kneeling bald indian Child holding wooden umbrella from ancient times wearing beaded brown necklace and simple white clothes in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 28th 2024.
“Profile view of South Indian King Mahabali facing left sitting in his throne in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 28th 2024. Used Adobe Photoshop to merge into one image.
(8) “A bald indian boy standing taking a big step with one foot lifted high facing sideways wearing brown beaded necklace and simple white clothes in children’s book style” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 28th 2024.
(9) “Profile view of South Indian King Mahabali sitting in his throne bent over with one arm reaching out in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 28th 2024.
(10) “hindu king mahabali looking up at the sky” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, May 1st 2024, ref. image: “Bald Indian boy child with brown beaded necklace and simple white clothes in ancient India in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 29th 2024
“Angled view of Hindu King Mahabali head looking up at something in the sky in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 29th 2024. Used Adobe Photoshop to merge into one image.
(11) “hindu king mahabali looking up at the sky” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, May 1st 2024, ref. image: “Bald Indian boy child with brown beaded necklace and simple white clothes in ancient India in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 29th 2024
“Angled view of Hindu King Mahabali head looking up at something in the sky in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 29th 2024. Used Adobe Photoshop to merge into one image.
(12) “Vamana in space” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, May 1st 2024, ref image: “Bald Indian boy child with brown beaded necklace and simple white clothes in ancient India in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 29th 2024 and “The universe in space in the style of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, May 1st 2024.
(13) “A giant brown barefoot stepping on the earth in the middle of space in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 30th 2024.
(14) “A giant brown barefoot stepping on the universe in the middle of space in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 30th 2024.
(15) “Hindu King Mahabali on one knee with his head bent facing sideways and hands praying in the style of a children’s book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, April 30th 2024.
“in the style of a children's book A small bald south asian boy taking a huge step with one leg raised” prompt, Adobe Firefly with generative fill tool, April 30th 2024. Used Adobe Photoshop to merge into one image.
(16) “blue hindu god vishnu standing in the style of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, May 1st 2024. (17) “many pookalam flower decorations for the festival of onam in the style of a children's book” prompt, Adobe Firefly, May 1st 2024.