The Legend of Onam

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Onam - Return Of Bali

Onam is the greatest festival of Kerala, a time of celebrations and fun. It is not just one day of festivity but a whole fortnight full of music, dance, boat races, sports and good food.

It is also a harvest festival when the whole countryside seems to be celebrating the rejuvenation of nature. Farmers and other people celebrate the bounty of nature after a year of hard labour.Celebrations: River Pampa comes alive with decorated floats and water sports. In Trichur, an elaborate procession of artistically decorated and caparisoned elephants is taken out. A huge crowd gathers to watch the procession. Singing and merry-making mark the occasion. Women wear new dresses and make elaborate rangolis, pookkalam, in front of their homes. Prayers are offered to the symbols of Mahabali, the legendary king of Kerala and Lord Vishnu. Two blocks of wood are installed in the backyard of homes to represent king Mahabali and Lord Vishnu. Onam celebrations at Thiruvananthapuram, Trichur, Kottayam are especially spectacular. The celebrations begin 10 days before Thiruonam. The festivities end in a spectacular display of fireworks. At Cheruthuruthy, dancers in traditional costumes perform dance-dramas based on the stories from epics and Puranas. Pulikali or Kaduvakali performers are also commonly seen during the Onam season. They are painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black colours and dance to the beat of traditional drums. In the evening girls perform the Kaikottikkali (Thiruvathirakkali ). They dance around the traditional brass lamp. Onam season is also used as an opportunity to promote tourism and many competitions and cultural programmes are organised. And what is a festival without special food! Onam is no exception. A large meal, comprising special delicacies, is served in the homes on the plantain leaf, in the traditional manner. Dances like Kaikotikalli are performed especially on Onam. The speciality of the festival is that it is celebrated by everyone, irrespective of religion. Thus it is truly a state festival.

Boat Races: The bank of river Pampa at Aranmulla attracts large crowds for the annual snake boat races. The precincts of the

Krishna temple on the river bank reverberate with the shouts of the cheering crowd. Every village along the river owns a boat and has a specialised crew to steer it. Dressed in white dhotis and turbans, they participate in the boat race. The boatmen row their boats with rhythmic movements to the accompaniment of drum beats and special boat songs. The boats are decorated with golden lace, flags and beautiful red umbrellas. The boats glide through the water like elegant fish. The villagers hold the boat in reverence and take good care of it. Only men touch the boat and that too without wearing their shoes. Legend Of Mahabali: Onam is celebrated to welcome the legendary king Mahabali. It is believed that he visits his kingdom every year at this time of the year. According to the legend, Mahabali ruled Kerala during ancient times. During his reign, people were happy and contented. There was no sorrow, poverty or disease in his kingdom. His reign was so good that the gods began to fear his popularity. They requested Lord Vishnu to put an end to his rule. Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin dwarf and went to seek alms from king Mahabali. He asked for three steps of land and Mahabali agreed. Vishnu then increased his size to cosmic proportions. In one step, he covered the entire earth, in the second, the entire heaven. Recognising the god in disguise, Mahabali offered his head for Vishnu's third step. Pleased with him, Vishnu asked him for his last wish. Mahabali asked permission to visit his kingdom once a year. This wish was granted and Mahabali was sent to the nether world. To fulfil his promise to the people of Kerala, King Mahabali visits his earthly kingdom during Onam.

Legend Of The Boat Palliodam: Once, some men were travelling in a boat called Palliodam. As they approached a bend in the river, the boat got stuck in the narrow turning. The spiritual head of the oarsmen, Bhattathiripad, thought that it was a bad omen as the boat was laden with food. He climbed to the river bank and saw a hut in the distance. He decided to go and seek help. But when he approached the hut, he saw a poor widow weeping near its door. She told Bhattathiripad that she had no food to give her children and that they were hungry. Bhattathiripad returned to the boat and took some food to the poor widow. Thus began the tradition of feeding one poor person on the day of Onam.

Legend Of The Vanishing Boy: Once, near Aranmulla, the head of the Katoor Mana, a Nambudiri family, was bathing in river Pampa. He offered oblations to the deities and waited to feed a poor man. As he waited on the river bank, he began to pray to Lord Krishna. When he opened his eyes, he saw poor wretched boy standing before him. The Brahmin took him to the river, gave him a bath, a new set of clothes and a sumptuous meal. But soon after finishing his meal, the boy disappeared. The Brahmin searched for the boy everywhere and finally found him neat the Aranmulla Temple. But the boy disappeared again. Thinking that the boy was none other than the god himself, the Brahmin brought food to Aranmulla Temple every year during Onam.

HAPPY ONAM !!!! to all Malayalees in this group.

Love

Hema

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