Onam is a famous festival celebrated by Malayalis in Kerala. It is a ten-day festival that arrives in the first month of the Malayalam calendar Chingam, during August/September.
The festival is celebrated in the remembrance of King Mahabali, who is divine to the people of Kerala. The celebration is given the kind of significance as Diwali is celebrated in the rest of India.
According to the belief, during these ten days, King Mahabali visits the Earth from Patal Loka. This year the celebration will begin on August 30 and continue until September 8.
The Onam Celebration
This is also the harvest festival in Kerala, which welcomes the rainy season. This time in Kerala is a must-visiting time for tourists. Kerala feels heavenly all year round, but during Onam, Kerala becomes a land of new taste, beauty, fragrance, and display and feels exotic.
Onam includes the giant feast called Sadhya along with other activities like Thiruvathira Kali, Pookalam, Ona-thallu, Pulikali, and Onavillu. There are welcome songs for King Bali; the whole state displays the beauty and culture of Kerala during these ten days. The mesmerizing boat race happens during which large snake-like boats are decorated and get prepared for Onam.
Who Was King Mahabali?
King Mahabali, as per the legends, was the King of Asuras. However, he was known for his welcoming nature and giving heart. Mahabali was a great king, and Kerala flourished to great heights during his rule. However, Bali was also the owner of the prosperity of the entire Earth. This becomes a matter of jealousy to some Devas, who take their concern to Vishnu.
Vishnu reached Earth as a poor dwarf Brahmin to fulfill the demand of Devas. When he reached the premise of Bali, the king asked about his wish. The Brahmin asked for three footsteps space. Mahabali, without thinking anything, grants the wish of Brahmin.
The Brahmin came into his real Vishnu avatar right after the boon and took his gigantic form. Vishnu put one footstep on Earth, another on Sky, and asked Bali where to put his third footstep. Since Bali was always giving and true to his promise offered his head to Vishnu.
Vishnu put his third footstep on Bali, and with this, Bali went to live in Patal Loka since he remained no space to live anywhere else.
Impressed with the giving heart of the King, Lord Vishnu blessed him that he will always be remembered by his people, the people of Kerala. The boon became true, and now Kerala people conduct the ten days festival to remember their King Bali.
The ten days are called Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthraadam, and Thiruvonam, respectively. On Uthraadam, the king returns from Patal Loka; on Thiruvonam, he visits the homes of his people. On Avittam, people prepare for his departure, and on the last day, the king finds his way back to Patal Loka.
Onam Celebrations In Modern Kerala
The festival Onam acknowledges the sacrifice of King Mahabali, who was compassionate and true to his promises despite being an Asura king. In the modern days, the celebration happens with much fervor as it used to be in the olden days.
People began the celebration many days ago before the festivity arrived. They make many arrangements for “Onathappan,” the great king.
People take ten days during which they put much effort all to make their king happy. They wish him happiness and welcome him warmly by depicting their state as happy and happening. These ten days depict the journey of king mahabali from his arrival to Earth and then going back.
The 2nd day is considered the most significant because, on this day, the king visits the homes of his people. He visits his empire and sees his people flourishing and celebrating his arrival. People take a bath early and wear their traditional clothes. They draw Pookalam and prepare the feast called Sadhya.
The festivity’s main attraction point is “Thrikkakara,” which is 10 km from Kochi. It used to be the capital under the rule of king Mahabali. There is also the existence of “Thrikkakara Appan,” who is Vishnu behind the avatar. The whole legend can be seen in “Suchindram Temple” of Kanyakumari.
Here is the meaning of different terms used in the celebration:
Pookalam
It is a decoration made of flowers, one of the most traditional things in Kerala.
Onasadhya
This is the colorful feast of Kerala served on banana leaves. It has more than 25 dishes; all served on a banana leaf on the last day of Onam.
Pulikali
Pulikali means the performance of singing and dancing associated with Onam. It is the dance of tigers in which the performers décor themselves as tigers and hunters and perform the act. This dance happens to the thrilling music of Thakil and Udukku.
