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Onam marks the ten-day homecoming of King Mahabali when millions of people across communities worship together at temples dedicated to Lord Vishnu and seek the blessings of elders.
Onam is the biggest festival in Kerala. A ten-day extravaganza, Onam is a popular harvest festival celebrated by the Malayali community in Kerala every year during Chingam (August to September). But did you know that there is a legend behind Onam?
The Onam festival celebrates the homecoming of the Great King Mahabali. People start preparing weeks in advance to ensure everything is ready so that all the traditions can be followed. Let's find out more about this legend, shall we?
The legend goes back thousands of years to Lord Vishnu and his avatar, King Bali. It was a golden age under Mahabali's rule, where everyone lived happily, and no one was poor. The gods became jealous of this and approached Lord Brahma, who requested Lord Vishnu to intervene as he could not bear to see his subjects suffer at the hands of their king. Lord Vishnu took the form of a dwarf, Vaman, and met King Mahabali. He then asked for three paces of land to signify his kingdom. King Mahabali granted him this, but little did he know that Vaman had other plans. He increased in size and measured all the earth and heavens with two steps, leaving only the netherworld for his third pace. King Mahabali, seeing through Vaman's plan, offered his head as the final step. Thus, he went down into the netherworld himself.
However, before leaving, he sought permission from Lord Vishnu. He asked to visit his kingdom and beloved people once a year. Lord Vishnu replied, saying, ""Yes, someone will come looking for you, and your wish will always be fulfilled"". Thus ends the tale of King Mahabali, and Onam is celebrated every year to commemorate his visit home, after which the world got back to normalcy. This legend has been passed down over generations, told from father to son, since time immemorial. This story highlights the moral that no matter how powerful we may become, our actions must always align with Dharma or moral order. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining humility and respect for higher powers, even when faced with deceit. Additionally, it showcases the belief that there is life beyond the physical body and that spiritual values hold greater significance than material wealth.
Each day of the ten-day Onam festivities has different rituals, customs, and cultural events. Celebrations begin with a ceremonial march called Athachamyam. There are flower decorations called Pookkalam everywhere. Women sing folksongs called Oonjalattom. Mask dances like Kummati kali are performed in villages. And the world-famous boat race, the Vallam Kalli, also occurs around the festivities. One such race is the Aranmula Uthruttathy Boat Race. Men and women perform the Kaikottikali folk dance, and there is also a tiger play called Pulikkali. They are all part of the tradition followed to welcome King Mahabali and seek his blessings for another year passing without any trouble.
For children, these ten days mean playing dress-up, catching swings, and dancing tigers. It doesn't end there. They also make floral designs on the floor, take dips in local lakes and watch boat races. The most exciting part, however, happens towards the end. Friends and family get together for a grand feast. In terms of economic impact, it has become the largest event in Kerala. It contributes significantly to selling vegetables, groceries, flowers, new clothes, etc. Artisans are involved in making flower-decked umbrellas, traditional clothing for Kathakali performers, and wooden masks for Pullikali folk art. This is a busy season for small businesses and retailers as the Onam season's festivities create a spurt in demand.
Visiting Kochi during Onam provides an opportunity to witness the unique blend of modern urban lifestyle and ancient Indian heritage. During the Onam festival, people decorate their homes with intricate patterns of bright yellow powder known as 'ronto'. Many people create beautifully crafted flower arrangements called pookolam in front of their houses. It's all greatly vibrant with colours and textures. You don't need to visit the villages for folk dance and music performances. The city hosts several folk performances throughout the day. During Onam, the famous Sree Poornathrayesa Temple is a special place to be. Located in the heart of Kochi, it holds a magnificent procession of decorative elephants carrying ornately designed gold-plated statues. At night, locals light hundreds of oil lamps on the streets, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere. It's a beautiful place to be.
As part of Onam celebrations, a lottery and boat race takes place. The Vallam Kali, or Snake Boat Race, is particularly famous among them and is held on the Punnamada Lake near Alappuzha town. The snake boats in these races have long snouts and are designed similarly to ancient Chinese warships. These boats are around 100 to 120 feet long. They are powered by about a hundred oarsmen divided into four groups sitting on both sides of the boat and singing songs. People believe winning teams will bless the village they represent with fertile crops, peace, and prosperity. Hence, they consider it a matter of prestige too. One of the most popular races here is the Nehru Trophy boat race, held in Jawaharlal Nehru's memory. The ticket prices range between Rs 100 and Rs 3000. The cheapest ticket is Rs 100, which allows access to the lawn area, or Rs 200–500, which allows access to the wooden gallery. For Rs 1,000, you can view the race from the concrete pavilion, also called the Rose Corner. My local guide suggested that I sit in the concrete pavilion. I was thankful as I had a wonderful view of the race. The Nehru Pavilion is the most costly viewing area, with tickets priced at Rs 2,500 (silver) and Rs 3,000 (gold).
No festival is complete without food. Most foods in the Onam festival are made using newly harvested rice called Onasadhya, served on banana leaves. The Onam Sadhya typically comprises 24 dishes representing all six tastes: sweet, salty, bitter, pungent, spicy, and sour. Though not much research exists around why exactly 24 dishes exist, it could be attributed to providing variety, satisfying every palate, or simply signifying completion.These include coconut-based preparations, fish, and other non-vegetarian items but vary in composition according to local taste and availability. There is something for everyone — payasam, thoran, idiyappam, appams and more. Each delectable item brings out unique flavours and textures enhanced as the cooked dish is allowed to soak in the complex flavours and become tastier with time. The festival is reminiscent of the harvest season and a way of showing gratitude towards farmers and nature. Since the feast is very filling, I have witnessed many people skip lunch and dinner on this day!
So this Onam, leave your comfort zone and reach out to family members far away. Tell them how much they mean to you, and enjoy some great home-cooked food. Happy Onam to all!
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