Onam - The Major Festival of Kerala, South India

Onam is the most important festival of Kerala, one of the southern states of India. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with great enthusiasm by all communities, all over Kerala. This vibrant and colorful festival is also a state festival. Onam celebrations are on for 10 days, beginning with the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam (August/September), which is the first day of Onam.

Onam festival is celebrated as a tribute to the benevolent ruler King Mahabali, who visits Kerala to see the welfare of his people. The festival shows the blissful rule of the King and the freedom, which the people enjoyed under his rule. It is believed that it was on this particular day in the Malayalam month of Chingam when Lord Vishnu took his fifth avatar as Vamana and sent the King Mahabali to nether world, granting him permission to visit his people on Onam day. So the people of Kerala join together to welcome their benevolent ruler during this time which is celebrated with great joy and excitement.

The merry making of the festival starts with artistically laid out Pookalam (flower mat) in front of every home, on Atham day, the first day of Onam. This is to welcome the advent of the vanquished king. Earthen mounds representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards.

The tenth day is the main Onam, called Thiruvonam. The other merry making activities during Onam to welcome their mighty king, who is affectionately called Onathappan, are the heavily decked elephant procession in Thrissur, the cultural capital of Kerala and the amusing boat races on River Pampa. Thousands throng the banks to cheer and watch the breathtaking show of muscle power, rowing skills and rapid rhythm of the boat race.

Women folk, usually eight to ten in number, perform "Kaikottikkali" dance around a Pookalam, where a Nilavilakku, (a traditional brass lamp of Kerala,) is placed in the centre. They dress up in heavy jewelry and new Kerala special saris with golden border. Fragrant jasmine flowers on the hair enhance their beauty while performing this clapping dance. Both young and old women submerge themselves in the spirit of the occasion and dance with perfect ease. This elegant dance is a feast to the eyes. The other dances during this occasion are Kathakali, Kummattikali, Pulikali and Kaduvakali.

The most delicious part of the festival is Onasadhya, which is an elaborate and grand meal. This sumptuous meal consists of rice and 11 to 13 tasty vegetarian items, including sweet Payasam, served in a plantain leaf. This meal is first served to Lord Ganapathi, and then to the rest of the family.

Cultural programs are held in the evenings which attract large number of people.

During the time of Onam celebrations, the beautiful Kerala can be seen at her best.

If you're looking for a way to commemorate this event, you might be interested in this article: Commemorations with Cross Stitch

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