Talk:Outdoor Sports:Boat Race
By Vishal Agarwal and The Hindu Society of Minnesota
The Indian subcontinent is blessed with numerous large rivers, lakes and coastline. In the śāstras, the Vāmana incarnation of Bhagavān Viṣṇu is associated with the festival of Onam in Kerala, in south India. The day on which Viṣṇu placed his foot on Bali’s head is called Bali Pratipadā and is celebrated as a festival every year one day after Dīpāvalī.
Viṣṇu allowed Bali to come to the earth once every year to meet his people. To welcome him, his people celebrate with a festival called Onam, which takes place in August. This festival is celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, and people conduct boat races and make carpets of flowers. They make many delicious foods. The festival of Onam lasts for ten days.
