Black History Month (BHM)
(held every October in Britain)

The origins of BHM go back to 1926 when Carter G Woodson, editor for thirty years of the Journal of Negro History, established African Caribbean celebrations in America. It is still celebrated there in February each year. In Britain, the BHM has now grown to over  6,000 events. (updated October 2007 its 20th anniversary)

People from the Black community have been promoting arts and culture for many years. Examples can be traced to Berry Edwards in Manchester (Caribbean Week in the 70s), or Eric and Jessica Huntley from Ealing who regularly organised a Caribbean week in the late 70s and early 80's, or Alex Pascall who established, on BBC Radio London, the Black Londoners radio programme which went from a monthly, to a weekly, and then to a daily Programme.

Black History Month is recognised by the Government and many MPs get involved in hosting, chairing events, speaking at launches, and have provided forwards for the two magazines. GLA, Local Authorities, and the Home office have a BME network which organises seminars every year for staff.

Onam Festival

Onam is a Harvest Festival celebrated by the people of Kerala in Southern India.  It is a Hindu festival that honours the mythical King of Kerala, who was called Mahabali and was very popular with the people.  The Gods became jealous of Mahabali's popularity and sent Lord Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) to send him to the nether world.

Mahabali was very generous and charitable King.  Whenever anybody approached him for help or requested for anything he always granted.  To test the King, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a poor Brahmin dwarf called Vamana.  He came to the Kingdom of Mahabali, just after Mahabali performed his morning prayers and was preparing to grant boons to Brahmins.  Vishnu explained he was a poor Brahmin and asked for a piece of land.  The generous King enquired to how much land he wanted.  The Brahmin replied that he just wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps.  The King was surprised with the request, but agreed.  A learned adviser of the King, Shukracharya, sensed that Vamana was not an ordinary person and warned the King against making the promise. But the generous King replied that it would be a sin for a King to back on his words and asked the Brahmin to take the land. The King could not imagine that the dwarf Brahmin was Lord Vishnu himself.

Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana began to expand and eventually increased himself to the size of cosmic proportions. With his first step he covered the whole of earth and with the other step he covered the whole of the skies.  He then asked King Mahabali where he could keep his third foot.  The King realised that he was no ordinary Brahmin.  Mahabali with folded hands bowed before Vamana and asked him to place his last step on his head so that he could keep the promise.  The Brahmin placed his foot on the head of the King, which pushed him to patala (the nether world). There the King requested the Brahmin to reveal his true identity.  Lord Vishnu then appeared before the King in his person.  The Lord told the King that he came to test him and that he passed.  King Mahabali was pleased to see Lord Vishnu, who granted a boon to the King.

The King was so much attached with his Kingdom and the people, that he requested that he be allowed to visit Kerala once a year.  Lord Vishnu was moved by the King's nobility and was pleased to grant the wish.  He also blessed the King and said even after losing all his worldly possessions, the King would always be loved by Lord Vishnu and his people.