Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala. It falls during Chingam the first month of Malayalam solar calendar, Kollavarsham. The festival is celebrated with much fervor and enthusiasm.
The festival of Onam begins on the day known as Atham and carries on till the 10th day known as Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam.
This year, Onam will be celebrated on September 2 and Thiru Onam falls on September 11. During these 10 days, Kerala will witnesses a display of various traditional and cultural art forms.
During these festivities, Kerala which is touted as God’s own country becomes among top travel destination for tourists.
Celebration of the festival Onam
A traditional nine-course meal, Onasadya which comprises of 10-13 dishes other than sweet dishes is served on a banana leaf which is relished by Malayalis.
From traditional Kerala dishes, sweets to delicacies, food plays a big role in the celebrations. Also as a part of celebrations, on the 11th and 12th-day cultural events likes boat races, Pulikkali(tiger play), Thiruvathira Kali and other traditional art forms are held.
On this day, People wake up early in the morning, take a bath, put on their new clothes and visit their friends and family and spend time with them.
Significance related to Onam
The age old mythology related to Onam is that the festival is celebrated to honor and welcome demon king, Mahabali who once ruled over Kerala. The king was very kind and ensured the well-being of his subjects. The land witnessed prosperity, happiness and peace. There were no fights or disputes and everyone lived happily. The King’s powers then moved from the earthly realm and went on to conquer the netherworld and even the heavens. The Gods who were already jealous about Mahabali’s stature in the Kingdom started feeling challenged by his increasing power. They tried to fight a battle against him but failed.
As Mahabali defeated the Gods and took over all three worlds, Devas approached Vishnu for help in their battle with Mahabali. Vishnu said he would help them but not by involving in a battle against Mahabali. So he descended to the Earth in the form of a poor dwarf Brahmin, Vamana (the fifth avatar of Vishnu). He visited Mahabali and asked him for three paces of land.
A kind Mahabali agreed to the wishes, but soon the sage started growing in size. With his first step, he covered the sky and the second step he covered the netherworld. And as his third step could have destroyed the land, a kind and humble Mahabali, who did not want to go back on his promise, offered his own head. But before he was banished from Earth, Vishnu who was impressed by Mahabali’s sacrifice and love for his subjects gave him a boon. He was allowed to visit the people of his kingdom once in a year. Hence, it is believed that Mahabali visits his subjects every year on the festival of Onam.
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