Onam or the harvest festival is the main festival celebrated in the state of Kerala. It is celebrated during the first month of the Malayalam calendar which coincides with the month of August or September. It is a ten days long festival which is celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm and fervour.
The legend goes that it is during these ten days that the King Mahabali, grandson of Prahlad, visits the earth. It is said that Mahabali was a great and a just king and everyone was very happy under his rule. He is said to have become so popular that he soon started ruling the whole universe. With the power, Mahabali became so pompous that he started to think that he was the greatest among all.
Feeling challenged by the growing popularity of Mahabali, the gods asked Lord Vishnu, to aid them win their kingdom back, and return the balance that Mahabali had disturbed. It is then that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana, a small Brahmin boy. In Vamana avatar, he went to Mahabali and asked for as much land as his tiny feet would cover in three steps. Mahabali could never disagree to this humble request so he consented to grant the land. It is then that Vamana took the form of a giant, filling the whole of the world. He took the first step from heaven to earth the second from earth to hell. When he had nowhere to put his third step, Mahabali asked him to step on his head, hence fulfilling his request. When Lord Vishnu stepped on Mahabali he was plummeted into ‘Patala’ or hell. Seeing his devotion, Lord Vishnu appointed Mahabali as the ruler of Patala and gave him the boon to visit his people once every year. It is during Onam, that Mahabali comes to visit his people, whom he loved dearly.
People in Kerela celebrate Onam with great fervour. They have to show their king how happy they are. There is dance, music, games and every other sort of festivities. The men play games while the women take part in cultural activities.
The tradition of making Pookalam or flower rangoli, which was originally made with 10 flowers known as ‘Dashapushpam’, to please their lord continues since forever.
One of the biggest attractions is th
The thirteen course scrumptious meal called Onasadya is prepared during the festival for a feast which is gorged on upon a traditional platter of banana leaf.
Onam is a very colourful festival that includes dance, music food and joyous celebrations in which people partake from all around the world as a reminder of the golden era of Mahabali’s reign.
e ‘Vallamkalli’- the snake boat race which takes place with great zest. There are about 100 oarsmen in each boat who rigorously row the huge narrow boats which make them glide on waters which great speed.
The legend goes that it is during these ten days that the King Mahabali, grandson of Prahlad, visits the earth. It is said that Mahabali was a great and a just king and everyone was very happy under his rule. He is said to have become so popular that he soon started ruling the whole universe. With the power, Mahabali became so pompous that he started to think that he was the greatest among all.
Feeling challenged by the growing popularity of Mahabali, the gods asked Lord Vishnu, to aid them win their kingdom back, and return the balance that Mahabali had disturbed. It is then that Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana, a small Brahmin boy. In Vamana avatar, he went to Mahabali and asked for as much land as his tiny feet would cover in three steps. Mahabali could never disagree to this humble request so he consented to grant the land. It is then that Vamana took the form of a giant, filling the whole of the world. He took the first step from heaven to earth the second from earth to hell. When he had nowhere to put his third step, Mahabali asked him to step on his head, hence fulfilling his request. When Lord Vishnu stepped on Mahabali he was plummeted into ‘Patala’ or hell. Seeing his devotion, Lord Vishnu appointed Mahabali as the ruler of Patala and gave him the boon to visit his people once every year. It is during Onam, that Mahabali comes to visit his people, whom he loved dearly.
People in Kerela celebrate Onam with great fervour. They have to show their king how happy they are. There is dance, music, games and every other sort of festivities. The men play games while the women take part in cultural activities.
The tradition of making Pookalam or flower rangoli, which was originally made with 10 flowers known as ‘Dashapushpam’, to please their lord continues since forever.
One of the biggest attractions is th
The thirteen course scrumptious meal called Onasadya is prepared during the festival for a feast which is gorged on upon a traditional platter of banana leaf.
Onam is a very colourful festival that includes dance, music food and joyous celebrations in which people partake from all around the world as a reminder of the golden era of Mahabali’s reign.
e ‘Vallamkalli’- the snake boat race which takes place with great zest. There are about 100 oarsmen in each boat who rigorously row the huge narrow boats which make them glide on waters which great speed.
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