Festival of Onam in Kerala

Onam is a big cultural festival in the State of Kerala. It is a festival of flowers, songs, dances, games, and feast. Onam comes in the first month of the Malayalam calendar called Chingam or August/September months. It is celebrated as the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. It also marks as the Kerala's rice harvest festival and the festival of flowers. The weather is warm and sunny and the fields look bountiful during this time of the year and it is a time of plenty. It is also the boom time of fruits and flowers. The festivities lasts from four to ten days, which brings about the best of the culture of Kerala. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are the most important. This is a Hindu festival that has crossed all barriers of creed, religion, or wealth which is celebrated by all and in all parts of Kerala and has gained the title of a State Festival. It is celebrated by people of different faiths in Kerala. All religions, castes, and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and fervor. It is also the coming together of people from different political and social backgrounds which otherwise does not happen. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

According to the legend and as it tells us, it is the annual visit of King Maveli (Mahabali) who is revered by all the people of Kerala from prehistory and during whose reign Kerala witnessed its golden era. The King was greatly respected in his kingdom and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. Everybody in the state was happy and prosperous and the king was highly regarded by his subjects. He was that much highly regarded among the subjects that even the Gods under Indra became jealous of Mahabali, they approached Mahavishnu claiming that Mahabali is now equivalent to an Indra. Since a world with two Indras represents imbalance, Mahavishnu assumed the form of a dwarf, the vamana avatara and tricked him to pathalam, the underworld. However, as Mahabali is equal to an Indra, he is to wait until the next yuga where he would be the Indra. In the meantime, with the grace of Mahavishnu, Mahabali visits his people on an annual basis. Mahavishnu serves Mahabali as a gatekeeper in the world of pathalam as the Lord himself serves his greatest devotees. This annual visit of Mahabali is celebrated as Onam every year. People celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well. Celebrations start with the lighting of the traditional lamp.

People believe that it is on the last day, Tiruonam that the spirit of King Maveli visits Kerala, hence the day is marked by feast and festivities. Devotees of Maveli celebrate the golden era witnessed in Maveli's reign during Onam. To welcome their revered ruler, people lay flower mats (Pookalam) in the front courtyard, prepare a grand meal (Onasadya), dance, play and make merry. All this is done to impress upon King Mahabali that his people are prosperous and happy.

The remarkable features of Onam are the decorated pookalam (floral carpets), kaikottikali(dance), vallamkali(snake boat races) onasadya(banquet lunch) etc. In this occasion, people wear new clothes and mostly dress traditional way(onakodi) distinct for men and women. Children have a lot to enjoy during this season with new clothes, toys, and anything they wished for during the season. Especially this is a holiday season totaling almost 10 days, and so everybody is on a vacation spirit, which is also a time for relatives from far and wide to share time with their dear ones.

This is also a time of great spending where all the shops and malls are flooded with new products and people come from all around the world. People wait for this special occasion when they get the most valuable products at reasonable prices. There are places where the prices touch the rock bottom where everyone have their share of joy and plenty. The most important part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

The weather is pleasant, warm, and sometimes a few occasional rains, which also coordinates with the autumn season in this part of the world. In this ten-day-long festive activities  that includes Pulikali, Kaikottikali, Kummattikalli, Kathakali, Thumbi Thullal besides several other folk arts and traditions that can be seen on one occasion called Onam. There are games and group sporting activities carried outside which includes the boat races,  pulikali etc. which everyone participates and win prizes.

If you are from a far away country, this is a special time to visit and spend your valuable time in Kerala and leave long lasting memories of this special occasion. I heartily invite you to spend your next vacation for celebrating Onam in Kerala.