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Onam
Kerala's harvest and new year. The rich and poor alike invariably
buy new clothes and lay 'onasadya' (feasts) on banana leaves. There
is smell of banana chips and 'payasam' (puddings) all over. The
domestic environment is charged with a spirit of celebration.Onam is
the most important festival celebrated in Kerala. Even today, an
image of Trikkakkara Vamana is symbolically used in Onam
celebrations in several places in Kerala.
Onam celebrations at Thiruvananthapuram, Trichur and Kottayam are
remarkable for their splendor. There is splendid display of
fireworks to mark the end of the festival. The girls perform the
Kaikottikkali or Thiruvathirakkali around the traditional brass lamp
in the evening and lot of competitions and cultural programs are
organized during the season. Thousand of tourists visit Kerala
during the festival to witness the gorgeous magnificence of the
festical. Join in the fun and festivities.
King Mahabali, whose legendary rules signifies prosperity. The
highlight of the festival is undoubtedly the snake boat races that
are held at Kottayam, Aranmula and Payipad in the backwaters.
The Legend :
According to local belief, in a war that took place between the
gods and the demons, the demons won. Deeply hurt by the defeat of
the gods, Aditi, their mother prayed to Lord Vishnu to destroy
Mahabali, the demon king. Consequently, Lord Vishnu, in the guise of
a Brahmin boy, Vamanan, went to Mahabali and asked him to grant him
three steps of land. The wish was granted and Vamanan covered the
whole land with his two steps and then he came back to the King
asking him where can he place the third step. The king to honour his
word, offered his head as the third step. Vamanan pushed Mahabali
deep down into the earth. Pleased by his honesty and generosity, the
lord in turn granted him a wish that he could he could visit his
kingdom and people on a particular day once a year.
Rituals :
One of the highlights of traditional Onam festivities is the
aththa-poo, an auspicious floral decoration that is made in the
compound of the house. Usually circular in shape, it is often
multi-tiered, and up to four or five meters across. It is decorated
with leaves, flowers and petals of different kinds. A flower is
dedicated to each day of Onam, and predominates the decorations.
Though the snake boat races are purely for fun there are rituals
connected to the snake boats. Tradition demands that a Nambudiri
Brahmin be at the main rudder oar, which is about 12 feet long.
There are four main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat. In
the old days the villagers used to sit in the boat in order of their
castes but today the order is changing though a certain pattern can
still be distinguished. Everyone-the carpenter, the barber, the
goldsmith, the blacksmith as well as the agricultural laborers-all
have a place on the boat.
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Onam
