The time when Kerala is at its best: Onam, Kerala’s most celebrated festival, highlights the arrival of Kerala’s beloved legendary king, “Mahabali”. Every Keralite will have a thousand words to say about Onam. It is a ten-day carnival that brings out the best in art, culture, tradition and taste. Out of this “Thiruvonam” is the most important day. Onam is defined as Kerala’s harvest festival that falls in the month of “Chingam” according to the Malayalam calendar, usually during August or September.
Legend has it that once upon a time there was a wise, generous, judicious and highly respected king named “Mahabali”. During his reign, Kerala was in its golden age, there was no difference between rich and poor, no poverty and no famine. The king became so popular that even the gods were envious. Then Lord Vishnu descended in the avatar of “Vamana” and sent the King to the underworld “Pathalam”. “Vamana” accepted King “Mahabali’s” request to visit his village once a year. This is how Onam was celebrated to welcome the King. Although this story is still a legend, every Keralite still keeps this story in his mind and heart, and this story continues to be passed down from generation to generation.
It is holiday season during Onam, most schools and colleges are closed during Onam holidays. Children and young people take a great initiative for the celebrations. There are many activities that take place during Onam which witness the active participation of all Malayalee irrespective of their religion and caste. Children would be playing games, there would be swings tied to big trees. The best weather in Kerala is during the Onam season during August and September, moderate hot and sunny weather. The land looks vibrant, being regarded as the harvest festival too, the fields look bright with farmers happy to receive their harvest. That makes the celebration in the villages seem more like an extravagance. Everywhere it is homecoming time, most of the people all over the world try to go back home to celebrate Onam. Everyone plans well in advance and it’s hard to get a ticket at the last minute.
The series of memorable events comes to mind for anyone who has celebrated Onam, some of them for example would be the snake boat race that happens very close to the Festival making it a part of the festival. Onam would not be complete without the flower carpet called “Pookalam”, the Onam” sadya “- the common lunch during onam with almost 25 dishes served on banana leaf, “Kaikottikalli”- an art form performed by Kerala women in the Kerala tradition half sari, elephant processions, “Pullikalli” men dressed as tigers would dance , and series of “Vadamvalli”, a common game during Onam: it involves two groups pulling a single rope from two sides with a tied tag in the middle, whoever pulls the tied tag to their side will win the game. game symbolizes group effort and strategy and you can find the strongest and heaviest at the rear of the formation.
The Nehru Trophy Regatta is organized on the second Saturday of every August; this is very close to the dates of the Onam festival. During this time, people would really feel that onam has come. Large numbers of people gather to watch the boat race, which is considered a close competition in the towns of Alleppey. This is a government organized event and many tourists from different parts of the world come to be a part of the event. Although it even happens in a backwater, the atmosphere is statewide. “Pookalam” is the most interesting and participatory activity during Onam, this is initiated by women and children. Today flower carpet contests are held throughout the state. The most common place where you can find these skills are schools and colleges. The children bring flowers and make a flower carpet in front of their house. In addition to the rugs long pyramidal structures are kept, these clay models represent “Mahaballi”. On the day of “Thiruonam”, the “Sadhya” (lunch) would be in the “Tharavadu”, traditional home with all the members of the family. “Sadhya” is the traditional Kerala lunch with almost twenty five different dishes served on a banana leaf with rice as the main ingredient. Women actively participate in the preparation of “Sadhya”. It is normally consumed by sitting cross-legged on the floor; the leaf would also be on the ground. And after that there would be “Payasam” (Dessert) served on the sheet itself. “Payasam” can be of different varieties, at least three varieties of “payasams” would be served at the end.
At the end of the tenth day, everyone would be depressed and say goodbye to family members and “Mahaballi”. The holidays are over and it’s time to go back to school and work. The experience of joy and fun with all the family and friends during the festive season is the reason why everyone returns home for Onam.