Happy Onam Festival

Onam is the national festival of Kerala. It is celebrated in honour of Mahabali, the mythical Asura king of ancient Kerala. Malayalees believe that on Onam day Bali visits his subjects. This harvest festival falls in August / September.

Onam has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries. There are records of Onam being celebrated during the Sangam Age. The earliest record of the festival is found during the reign of Kulasekhara Perumals around AD 800.

Significance

Onam has two specific significances. First it is the memory of community at large and celebration of past history as enunciated in the Mahabali legend – a story of how paradise was lost. Second it is the celebration of the harvest, tied with the memory of the golden age of prosperity. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season. After the rain-drenched month of Karkidakam, with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month for people in the state of Kerala. The festival is the harbinger of spring — signalling the start of the harvest season. Onam epitomises the newfound vigour and enthusiasm of the season, and is celebrated with traditional fervour with visits to temples, family get-togethers, gifting of clothes called Onakkodi and lots of merrymaking. The Keralites perform the Mohiniattam Dance, dedicated to the female form of Vishnu Mohini. There is also the Krishnanaattam dance. Many Keralites also worship Narayani. Sri Narayani Peedam and Sri Bangaru Adigalar of Kerala and their followers claim that these two figures are a forms or avatars of the goddess Sri Narayani. Thiruvathira kali is another dance form performed at the time of onam.Onam is celebrated with flower,and sadhya(Kerala food).The flowers are decorated on the floor to welcome Mahabali.

A typical Onapookkalam

A typical onam meals

Onam Moralities

Lot of questions has been asked why Lord Vishnu punished mahabali, who like his grandfather (Prahlada), was one of the greatest devotees of Lord Vishnu (Bali became the greatest) on Earth as he sacrificed his kingdom for the Lord.

Even though at a glance we think Mahabali was punished for his good deeds, the reverse is the case.Mahabali got the blessings from Lord Vishnu for being remembered for eternity by way of Onam. He also got the opportunity to keep his head under Lord Vishnu's holy feet thus all his sins were wiped away by Lord Vishnu.

Also, by the boon of Vishnu, Mahabali will be the next (Purandara is the current Indra), that is, the eighth Indra (King of Devas) during the time of the eighth Manu, Savarni Manu.