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Story of God’s own festival: Onam, Kerala

Regarded as God’s own country, the beautiful state of Kerala is a tourist paradise. There is a diverse range of festivals that have their distinct fragrance and music. Celebrated with much pomp and fervour, the Onam festival of Kerala is the most popular and official festival of the state. Onam-Kerala bids adieu to the monsoon and welcomes the harvest season, especially the Rice harvest.

Onam in Kerala is an annual celebration in the months of August-September, on the first month of the Malayalam calendar, Chingam. It also has its other name as “Thiruonam” or “Sravanmahotsav”. During these harvest festivals people please the Gods and Goddesses of agriculture and pray for household opulence.

The word “Onam” comes from the Sanskrit word “Shravanam”, which means one of the 27 Nakshatras or constellations. Thiruvonam is the Lord Vishnu’s Nakshatra. Onam marks the Malayalee New Year.

Onam, Kerala- Vishnu The Savior

Legend of Mahabali

The the sacred “Bhagwat Purana”the sacred “Bhagwat Purana” articulates the famous Onam story. Mahabali was the great-grandson of Hiranyakashyapa and grandson of Vishnu devotee Prahlada. Though he was a demon-king, he was generous, virtuous, an indiscriminate ruler and Kerala gained prosperity and joy during his reign.

Even the Gods in heaven were insecure about his fame. Out of the fear of threat to their adulation, the Gods went to Lord Vishnu for help. As the demon king was an ardent worshipper of Lord Vishnu, Lord Vishnu refused to fight with him, nonetheless, he decided to test the king’s virtue and devotion at an opportune moment.

Once the King Mahabali was carrying out a Yagna (fire sacrifice) and took an oath that he shall fulfil the desire of anyone who demands anything during the yagna. In the middle of the yagna, Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a dwarf Brahmin priest and came there. This was the Vamana- Avatar of Lord Vishnu.

The Lord Vamana asked the king to give so much land that covers three paces to which Mahabali agreed. The first two steps of Vamana covered the earth and sky. Seeing the Brahmin grow enormously, there was a realization in the heart of demon-king that he is Lord Vishnu and took pleasure in it. For Vamana’s third step, the king and the offering of his head led him to PatalLok (the world underneath).

Impressed by the king, Lord Vishnu blessed him with immortality and granted a boon that he would be able to revisit his homeland, kingdom and people annually. There is a belief that Vishnu (or Vamana) sent the great king to the underworld, but gave him an allowance to visit his people once a year, hence Onam.

Onam and its Meaning from the tale

Hence, Onam-Kerala has celebrated to commemorate the arrival of the Asura-king Mahabali. Earlier during the Sangam period, Onam celebrations used to continue for a month. The Kerala government made it an official holiday in the 1960s. Thrikkakkara, an area in Kochi, is particularly significant during the festival because of its temple.

There is an alternate interesting legend behind the Onam festival of Kerala. According to it, Lord Vishnu was upset with the kings and the warrior class due to their arrogance. So Lord Vishnu incarnated as “Parashurama” or “Rama with an Axe”, also known as Rama Jamadagyna.

A king named Kaartivirya persecuted and oppressed the people, sages and Gods. One day he came to the hermitage of Parshurama and his mother Renuka. While Parshurama was away, the king took away the calf of their cow without their permission. When Parshurama returned, he was enraged by the injustice of the king and thus, called him to war.

He killed the King and all his oppressive warriors. In the end, he threw the axe, and wherever it fell, the sea retreated, creating the land of Kerala and other coastal western parts of the Indian subcontinent. As per another version, a mini-Himalayan-like mountain range was created with Parshurama’s axe and he brought Namboodiri Brahmins to Southwest India. In this way, the Onam festival celebrates the creation of Kerala by marking those days as New year.

Onam-Kerala: The grandeur of its celebration

PC: Sharmili

Atham

Also popular as “Tripunithura Athachamayam,” the celebrations on the first day of Onam happens with grandeur and zeal. It is the day when King Mahabali starts preparations to head towards the earth. People begin to design beautiful Pookalam (only with yellow flowers) in front of their houses and temples.

Pookalam is a form of rangoli specifically dedicated to Onam, the size of which increases with each day of the Onam festival by adding a layer. Usually, men gather flowers for women and also arrange them. The usage of various floral patterns and elements makes the occassion auspicious. People host Several Pookalam competitions on Onam throughout Kerala. It feels as if a carpet of flowers is placed whereby you don’t wish to step on it.

Chithira

On the 2nd day, the house cleaning commences. The planning for the main day of Onam probably commences on this day.

Chodi

From this day onwards, markets are overloaded with people shopping their hearts out. Abundant clothes and accessories are sold.

Vishakam

Throughout Kerala, a line-up of competition commences from this day. Also, the Malayali ladyfolk begins with certain items of the sumptuous cuisine Onam-Sadya. Some of them start with their toothsome pickle preparations.

Anizham

There arrives the fifth day full of entertainment. A majestic and traditional Snake Boat race event takes place which is popularly known as Vallamkali in many parts of Kerala such as on the banks of River Pampa at Aranmulla. The Nehru Trophy Boat race and Uthrattathi Boat race are the major crowd pullers.

River Pampa is considered to be sacred equivalent to River Ganga.

The exquisite snake boats are famous as the name of “Chundanvallams” and are 100 to 120 feet long. These races date back to 400 years whereby the Kings of diverse regions used to battle with each other in boats. Once King Devnarayana suffered heavy losses and to seek revenge the special Snake-like canoe was architected.

Hundreds of oarsmen along with helmspersons accommodate the massive and festooned boat. There is a cut-throat competition whereby the team who reaches first while singing VanchiPattu (song of the boat), wins the coveted trophy. There are other men in the boat who motivate the oarsmen by singing songs and playing traditional percussion instruments. After winning, the rowers are eat a feast, Vallasadhya.

Rowing of the boats at the rhythm of the songs and music makes the event thrilling and captivating. Lakhs of people, including tourists, witness this resplendent event. Photographers keep on clicking continuously with drones flying over the backwaters, without missing any visual out of this marvellous race. This race driven by a sense of competition invigorates exhilaration via sensation to the culture of the ‘Onam-Kerala festival’.

Thriketa

By the 6th day of the Onam festival, Schools start closing and people devote all their time to the Onam celebrations. People travel to their ancestral homes in order to enjoy the revered fest with their dear ones. Family and friends often exchange gifts on this occassion.

Moolam

By this day, the decorations of the state is divine and is a treat to the eyes. Shops become overfull with flowers and goods. Various Hindu temples also start serving the traditional Onam-Sadya. Pookalam is made in a new design with Kondattam (gaiety) accompanied with most lovely flowers. A medley of dance performances related to the Onam festival including Puli Kali takes on the 7th day.

Pulikali is a tiger dance with a term, Kaduvakali. It is a common sight during the Onam festival. The performers are painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black and they dance to the beats of instruments like Chenda and Thakil. This folk art is primely performed in the cultural district of Thrissur and thousand pour into the city to be a part of this enthusiastic art.

Splendid dance performances take place, such as Thiruvathira kali (women dancing in a circle around a lamp), Kummattikali (colourful-mask dance), Onam Kali (around a pole or tree or lamp, players dance and sing songs derived from the Ramayana and other epics) and Kathakali (dancers enacting famous mythological legends).

Pooradam

Small idols of the Vamana and King Mahabali have their place in the middle of the vivid pookalam to which many layers in addition to it, currently. King Mahabali is invited and greeted. Now the figurine will be famous as the name, onathappan. This day is also has other name, Pooradauttigal.

Uthradom

As per mythology, the king Mahabalitours his kingdom and blesses the people this day. As First Onam, the 9th day is a holiday in Kerala. People buy fresh vegies and cook the gala traditional meal and welcome the spirit of the King.

The public holiday starts 4 days from Uthradom. 

Thiruonam

Finally, on the 10th day, the Onam festival is at the apex, it is the main day. It is also the Sacred Onam Day or the Second Onam. Celebrations start in the early morning itself with people dressing up, cleaning and decorating the houses, placing a rice water mix at the entrance on this auspicious day. It also include visiting temples to offer prayers, making or attending the grand Thiruona-Sadya and distributing gifts to friends and relatives.

The patriarch of a renowned Brahmin family oversees the rituals of Aranmula temple. Though the major chunk of the cultural extravaganza ends by Thiruonam, 2 more days add to the joy – Third Onam and Fourth Onam. The Third Onam is famous as “Avittom”. The Post Onam celebrations mark the departure of King Mahabali to heaven.

In some parts of Kerala, people host multiple games and dances post-Thiruonam, with the name of “Onakkalikal”. These comprise of ox races, food-eating and pookalam competitions, etc. The important ritual is to immerse the Onathappan Statue which had its place in the middle of the magnificent pookalam. The cleaning and removal of Pookalam also takes place.

Onam 2020- The feast of a lifetime

The word “Sadhya” means “banquet” in Malayalam and as the name goes, Onam-Sadya is a complete diet full of nutrients, vitamins, proteins and lip-smacking taste. Originating from Kerala this feast composes of 13 to 30 traditional vegetarian dishes. The serving of this nine-course meal is mostly on the banana leaf. Though it is usually a form of lunch, but for dinner there is a  preference for a lighter version of it.

Some typical items of this lavish food include rice (parboiled brown rice), Parippu, Sambar (one which goes with idlis), Kottukari, Pachadi (similar to Raita), sweet pachadi (known as Madhura curry), Kaalan, Thoran, Papad, Plantain (banana) chips and so on along with several accompaniments to add to the overall flavour and joy of eating.

To make it complete, special desserts namely Prathaman and Payasam are available for the ones with sweet-tooth to relish. The Payasam has cow milk while Prathaman has coconut milk that makes them apart.

South-Indian food including Sadhya is one of the healthiest cuisines as it is a blend of eating habits from Sanatana Dharma, seasonal cooking and nutritional values. First of all, the serving of food is in the form of a Pankti i.e. where people sit on the floor in a line. This not only increases social interaction but also aids in proper digestion, promotes blood flow and improves the flexibility of your body.

The main item of Onam sadya is the rice which itself is a powerhouse of fibre, protein and selenium. The red rice is a solid source of carbohydrates, the controlled consumption of which reduces the risk of diabetes. The Kootu curry made of chickpeas is perfect for the diabetics.

As Sambar is a melting pot of all sorts of vegetables, it is healthier like nothing. The rasam that is a common accompaniment, has several herbs, spices and ingredients which ensure smooth metabolism and cures nausea by detoxing the body. It is rich in iron and calcium.

For the cooking of majority of the dishes there is usage of coconut oil that has anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties to boost the immune system. There is use of Asafoetida in cooking which further is beneficial to treat intestinal troubles, respiratory problems and headaches.

Apart from the health advantages, the disciplined practice of eating with hands benefits us immensely in every possible way. The fingertips connect with the heart and the motion and touch activate all the chakras of our body. Eating on a banana leaf is a cherry on the cake in the holy and scientific way both.

The food absorbs the anti-oxidants present in the leaf. It is rich in antibacterial properties, vitamin A, calcium and carotene. Local custom says that closing the leaf towards self at the end communicates satisfaction with the meal.

Thus, Onam-Sadya is undoubtedly a balanced and healthy meal to savour during the festive mood. There are a plethora of guilt-free dishes to binge while working for weight-loss. Also, the significance of the feast is captured in the famous Malayalam proverb which says that one must have the Onam lunch even by selling one’s property if need be! At Thrikkakara Temple, about 10,000 people attend Onasadya fest on the last two days of the Onam festival.

Explore other colourful and lively festivals of our country 

Onam Kerala- A Rich Culture

The vivid 10-day celebration gives a glimpse of the unique culture of Kerala. Also, it gives a golden opportunity to present dynamic creativity in decorations and cooking. The adventurous water carnival, the outstanding pookalam designs, the temptingly tasty Onasadya.

The people decked in typical traditional outfits, the sound of the folk-instruments and the cheering crowds of tourists and people fill the air with vigour, excitement, togetherness and aesthetic feelings. The land of tall palms and calm backwaters turn into a riot of colours. Onam festival is a rare festivity to maintain your health while gaging upon scrumptious items.

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