By RITA UNNITHAN, Kerala, August 27
The harvest festival of the south Indian state of Kerala gained global importance not only due to presence of Malayalees across the world, but also due to the communal harmony message it delivers. Onam is an annual harvest festival and it falls during the month of
Chingam (August-September as per Gregorian calendar), the celebration lasts for 10 days. It starts from the first day of the month, atham, with every household in the state sporting a floral decoration (athapookalam).
The flower decorations take a new design and hue everyday for the remaining nine days, with the inmates putting a new athapookalam till the tenth day and the most important day of thiruonam. On the day of thiruonam, the Malayalees have an elaborate feast called onasadya, with boiled rice as main dish and around 13-15 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves, with the inmates of a house gathering by noon and sitting on mat laid on the floor for the meal.
However, during the Onam period of 10 days non-vegetarian seldom finds a place on the menu of the Malayalees.
Elaborate feasts, folk songs, dances, games (onakalikal), boatraces (vallamkali) and processions and floats depicting various culture and art forms also find a place during the period. Various sports also engage the people during the season like talappanthukali (a ball game), ambeyyal (archery), kayyankali and attakalam (combat games).
A popular refrain in Malayalam is sung by people during the season, which essentially captures one of the reminiscence of a bygone era.
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The Myth of King Mahabali
The festival is associated with the myth of benevolent asura (demon) ruler in Kerala, who despite his evil ancestry was the best king the land ever had. Onam is a tribute to this mythical king, whom Keralites believe is visiting the state to enquire about the well-being of his citizens. He is also called popularly called Maveli or Onathappan.
Maveli rules the state, and like the folklore goes, it was the best rule the state had ever had. However, this was not much liked by the gods, who thought of a plan to get rid of him.
Disguised as Vamana (a poor Brahmin), Lord Vishnu (one of the three most powerful Gods of Hindu mythology) came to Mahabali and asked for three steps of land. Unaware of the game plan, the generous King Maveli said he could take whatever he wanted.
Just as King Mahabali agreed to grant the land, Vamana expanded himself to cosmic proportions and covered the whole of earth in the first step, and the skies in the step. Unable to provide the Brahmin the third step, the benevolent king offered his head as the last step to keep the promise. Lord Vishnu then placed his foot on the head of the King and pushed him to patala, a world believed to be beneath the earth.
However, the king requested the Lord Vishnu for a boon, to visit his peasants once every year. And he comes on every thiruonam to visit his citizens.
Find more on Onam:-
http://www.onamfestival.org/king-mahabali-onam.html |
