Onam Festival
Onam is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, a legendary ruler of Kerala, who was renowned for the justice and goodness of his rule. According to legend, people in his kingdom lived in prosperity and harmony and loved their King so much that even the God's grew jealous of him, for King Mahabali was of the race of Demons. King Mahabali had conquered all the land and sea and the heavens, making the Gods even more disturbed. They requested Vishnu, the Preserver, in the Hindu trinity to act. Vishnu descended on earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin, called Vamana. He went to King Mahabali's palace and found the good King distributing alms.
When Mahabali asked Vamana what alms he sought, Vamana replied he would like as much ground as he could cover with three footsteps. Mahabali looked at the tiny feet of the dwarf and agreed to his wish. Lord Vishnu covered the land and seas with one step and the heavens with the second. Mahabali recognized the presence of the Lord and offered his head as the ground for Vishnu/Vamana's third step. Mahabali was thus subjugated and sent to the underworld. However because he was a good and just king who loved his subjects, he could return once a year to check on the welfare of his people. Thus Onam is celebrated every year to welcome Mahabali, the good Demon King of Kerala. Join in the grand Onam celebration on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.
Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. People observe this festival in the month of Chingam, that is the ending of August and beginning of September, with a grand feast. Onam signifies the abundance of nature after a year of hard labor. Ironically, people say that king Mahabali ruled the state a long time before; and under his reign, his people lived happily. Therefore, the people of Kerela observe this festival to remember King Mahabali. The belief: during Onam festival, the beloved King Mahabali returns to Kerala to pay a visit his people. So, they put pookalam (a flower mat) for him. It is a symbol of welcoming their beloved King Mahabali.This festival is marked by the spectacular snake boat races on Pampi River and a long procession at Trichur. On the eve of Onam festival, Keralites clean their houses and decorate them.
On Onam festival, they wear new clothes. Different types of recipes, favorite dishes are served on banana leaves and different types of sweets are cooked. One delicious food called payasam (a sweet porridge) is served. Women dress up in new clothes and wear precious jewelry. They make various designs of rangolis and pookkalam in front of their houses.One of the significant features of this festival is Vallamkali-in Malayalam it means the great boat race.
Hundreds of men row the boat, beating the drums and cymbals. On the top of each boat, there is a silk umbrella with gold coins hanging from it. Various boats including Chundans (the snake-like long boats) participate in the boat race.Different types of recipes are served on banana leaves during the famous Onam festivals, such as Moru curry, Thoran, Injipuli, and Sambhar. Not only Hindus but also Christians and Muslims observe Onam festival. It is such a festival that binds people of Kerala irrespective of race and religion.One of the highlights of the traditional Onam festivities is the Atta-poo an auspicious floral decoration that is made in the compound of the house The first day of Onam is called Attam. Women get up early than usual have a bath, wear fresh clothes, neatly pin strings of jasmine and other seasonal flowers in their long black tress and adorn themselves with jewellery. Usually circular in shape it is often multi-tired and up to four or five meters across. It is decorated with leaves flowers and petals of different kinds a flower is dedicated to each day of Onam and predominates the decorations.According to local belief, in a war that took place between the gods and the demons, the demons won.
nam Festival is celebrated with great joy and gaiety across Kerala, India on a particular day in August or September. People buy new clothes and exchange gifts. Houses are cleaned and beautiful flower carpets and decorations are made at the entrances of houses and in courtyards. Traditional oil lamps are lit in the courtyard and women dressed in traditional Kerala sarees dance around the lamp, performing a dance called Thiruvathirakali. The main event on Onam day is a grand feast at lunchtime. Called sadya, the feast consists of a series of dishes served one after the other, including rice, vegetable curries, pickles and several varieties of payasam or sweet dish. Many cultural events are also held on the occasion of Onam. Snake Boat races, Kathakali and Mohiniattam dance recitals and musical performances are organized to celebrate Onam in Kerala.
The Devas or Gods were worried over the wise and good rule of Mahabali, the Asura king, thinking that he might become too powerful. They sought the help of Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity) to curb Mahabali's power. Vishnu, in the form of a dwarf called Vamana, approached him and had been offered a boon by the king. The Vamana asked for three paces of land and the king agreed to it. Soon the dwarf began to expand and with the first step, he covered the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, he straddled the nether world.
Realising that the Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last step. The Gods were glad, but since Mahabali was so attached to his kingdom and the subjects and was very much loved by the people, he was allowed to return once a year. Onam (Thiruonam) is considered to be the day when King Mahabali comes from exile to visit his beloved people.Celebrated against a setting of lush green vegetation, Onam is the principal festival of Kerala. This amazing harvest festival brings ten days of colour feasting, boat races, song and dance to the state.According to old sayings, the state's most spectacular festival, Onam celebrates the golden age of King Mahabali, the mythical ruler of Kerala. The festival is to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali, and to assure him that his people are happy and wish him well.
