Onam 2025: A Festival of Devotion, Innovation, and Global Unity
The Onam Spirit of Unity and Abundance Blossoms
The air was filled with the vibrant spirit of Kerala as the ancient traditions of Onam blended with a modern vision of global unity unfolded at the One World One Family World Cultural Festival 2025. The event, which paid tribute to the festival of homecoming, was a beautiful tapestry of spiritual teachings, cultural performances, and humanitarian initiatives.
The Morning Session: Honouring Onam and the Story of Mahabali
The day began with warm Onam greetings with the festival’s profound significance being highlighted, celebrating its message of joy, inclusivity, and prosperity that transcends religion, caste, and community.
The central theme revolved around the story of King Mahabali, known for his extraordinary generosity and humility. The narrative detailed his supreme sacrifice to Lord Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu, emphasising that true devotion lies in complete surrender. This spiritual lesson was paralleled with Sadguru’s mission, which, like Vamana’s cosmic form, is expanding across three dimensions—healthcare, nutrition, and education—to serve millions worldwide.
The cultural celebration that welcomed Sadguru was a visual and auditory feast. It began with Mohiniyattam, the graceful classical dance of Kerala, followed by the traditional Talappoli ritual. The hall was then uplifted by the majestic rhythms of the Panchavadyam, a devotional temple art form featuring five instruments. The performance, led by Shri Kotm Vineh Marad and his team, began at a slow, stately pace and built to a powerful crescendo, symbolising spiritual discipline and fervour.
The musical bouquet presented by devotees from Kerala was another highlight. Their performance included four Malayalam songs, starting with “Mavin Nada,” which invites King Mahabali back to Kerala. This was followed by two compositions dedicated to Lord Krishna, “Karuna Chayan” and “Anolanam,” and concluded with the sacred lullaby for Lord Ayyappa, “Harivisam.”
Keynote Speeches and Spiritual Reflections
Dr B N Narasimha Murthy, Chief Mentor of the Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Group of Institutions and Chairman, Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, shared his reflections. “He came as a small Vamana, but today He has grown into Trivikrama, whose mission spans the entire globe,” he said, referencing Sadguru’s journey. Dr Murthy praised the cultural performances, calling the Panchavadyam the “best I have ever heard” and highlighting the Mohiniyattam dancers and singers. He connected Mahabali’s story to the concept of Navavidha Bhakti, or complete surrender, quoting from the Bhagavata Purana to illustrate how Mahabali’s offering of his own head for Lord Vamana’s third step represents the highest form of devotion.
Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai concluded the morning session with a powerful message. He extended his wishes to the “brothers and sisters from Kerala” and spoke about the spiritual significance of Onam. “The highest form of devotion is to surrender to the Divine,” he stated, explaining how King Mahabali’s readiness to sacrifice his ego (“ahankara”) and worldly attachments made him worthy of divine grace. Sadguru warned against the illusion of ownership, reminding everyone, “Everything already belongs to God.” He concluded that the essence of Onam is not just a cultural event but a timeless spiritual lesson in humility and unconditional surrender.
The Evening Session: A Convergence of Cultures and Innovation
The evening session was a grand affair that celebrated the convergence of three significant occasions: Teachers’ Day, Eid Milad-un-Nabi, and the continuation of Onam celebrations. The stage welcomed a distinguished group of dignitaries:
- Prince Rama Varma, a celebrated musician from the royal family of Travancore
- His Highness Sheikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Mualla, member of the UAE royal family
- Dr Abdul Rahman Salim Al-Suedi, Founder of the Salama Foundation
- Dr Buu Abdullah, Chairman of the Buu Abdullah Group of Companies
- Dr Sapna Poti, Director of Strategic Alliances to the Government of India
- Dr B N Narasimha Murthy, Chairman of the Prashanthi Balamandira Trust
- Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, Global Humanitarian, Spiritual Leader and Founder, One World One Family Mission
The event also featured the CSR Circle of Honour, which recognised corporate partners for their humanitarian work. The Volvo Group was honoured for their outstanding contributions, including its “Vaccination on Wheels” program. Sharp Software Development India Pvt Ltd (SSDI), a long-term partner, was also celebrated for their support of Gurukulum students, with the honour received by Mr Pravin Kanipakam, Managing Director of SSDI.
Speeches on Innovation and Unity
The evening’s keynote speeches delved into the powerful intersection of spirituality, science, and social good. Dr Sapna Poti spoke about India’s innovation ecosystem and its alignment with the “One World, One Family” vision. She emphasised the need to empower rural communities, stating, “Our villages do not know how to articulate a problem statement; we are developing rural smart village centres to empower them.”
Mr Anand Kanan, IFIA Bharat National Director, inaugurated the new IFIA headquarters, describing innovation as “the child of curiosity and the grandchild of courage.” He highlighted the federation’s mission to transform grassroots ideas into impactful solutions and its collaboration with Sadguru’s humanitarian initiatives.
The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the IFIA Bharat and the Sri Sathya Sai University of Human Excellence, one of the key highlights of the day, is expected to strengthen India’s position as a global hub for humanitarian technology and rural upliftment through innovation.
The launch of the IFIA chapter in Muddenahalli will introduce a new model of global innovation, one rooted in humanitarian service, sustainability, and rural upliftment. Instead of commercial motives, inventors will be encouraged to develop solutions inspired by compassion and social responsibility.
HH Sheikh Abdullah Bin Rashid Al Mualla expressed deep admiration for Sadguru’s mission, calling it “a living embodiment of compassion, wisdom and universal love” that aligns with the UAE’s values of tolerance and generosity. Prince Rama Varma lauded Sadguru for being “authentic,” and spoke about the universal power of arts like music, dance, and comedy to break language barriers.
In his concluding address, Sadguru spoke about the seamless integration of science and spirituality. He stressed the importance of frugal innovation to solve real-world problems and shared inspiring stories of young innovators creating solutions for their communities. “We have to be problem solvers,” he said, emphasising that the intention behind innovation is what truly matters. He also highlighted the importance of values-based education, noting, “When you are happy inside, you will not be able to behave destructively.”
A Grand Finale: The Kiratam Kathakali Performance
The evening concluded with a stunning Kathakali performance of Kiratam, directed by Kalamandalam Adityan and his team. The performance beautifully depicted a pivotal episode from the Mahabharata, showcasing the themes of surrender and divine grace through expressive gestures, elaborate makeup, and emotive storytelling.
Sadguru praised the artists for making the traditional art form both entertaining and accessible to a modern audience. He reflected on the role of storytelling in Indian culture, noting that classical theatre was created to make spiritual texts understandable to the common person. He called the performance a “perfect, uplifting conclusion to the festival,” one that celebrated the preservation of India’s vibrant cultural heritage.