Onam is an amazing harvest festival celebrated by Malayalee’s who are born in gods own country Kerala around the world. This festival is celebrated among the people in the world for the sake of love and harmony. It was celebrated among the Hindu religion, over time people from all religions celebrate Onam. Onam Festival is celebrated for all humans to love and help each other.
This festival is followed by ten days of a variety of cultural rituals and games. This festival is celebrated to brings everyone together in their native or family place to spend some joyful moments. Onam which is also known as the festival of flowers or festival of harvest, has a great history behind it, which also helps to celebrate it by understanding its inner beauty
Once upon a time…, the time of devas and asuras, The three worlds were ruled by a king, Mahabali. It was a great time .he was a very good king so that people lived very happily. Nobody was in a struggling situation so there is no cheating, theft…. This makes the team of devas jealous, they want the world under their rule so that they went to Lord Vishnu and asked for help. to help deva, lord Vishnu changed into a young nun named Vamana and went to see mahabali.
He meets the king as a poor nun and asked 3 feet of land for doing yoga, the noble king agreed to this without knowing the greed behind it, after he agrees to give land, the poor nun changed his body into a giant one and measure the whole world in one foo, next feet covered heaven .
there was no place for the third step so mahabali , the good noble king asked Vamana to place the third feet on his head . Vaamana place his feet on mahabali’s head and send him to beneath the earth, but lord Vishnu give him a wish so that mahabali can come and visit his people once in every year. And his visit is celebrated as Onam
Onam is celebrated for 10 days. Atham ,Chithira ,Chodhi ,Visakham,Anizham,Thriketa,Moolam,Pooradam,Uthradam,Thiru Onam.From the first day which is atham, people began to make pookkalam on the the courtyard which mis a type of flower arrangement, and make clay models of mahabali the shape, and length of pookkalam and models varies h days and as days go on, other rituals such as pooja, thiruvathirakali, which is a dance form, vallam kali, which is a boat race,… are takes place.On the day of Onam,, everyone wears a white traditional dress which is known as settumundu or settusari or pattupavada etc…and make a a big meal with differet types of side dish and payasam which is a special desert people also playdifferent gamest at the time of Onam
The major events of pnam festival are pookalam ,thiruvathirakkali ,vallam kali ,onasadya and pulikkali. Onam Festival begins with Onappookkalam. Starting from Atham, people make Onappookkalam which is a beautiful is a floral arrangement. In the early days, it will be small in size but as days progresses the size will increases, kids will make it as a competition such that who will make big pookkalam, people also conduct big competition in schools, colleges and other organization as a part of Onam celebration.
Even though it is a Hindu ritual, all people are making pookkalam without considering cast and religion Thiruvathirakkal, which is a type of group dance form performed by women wearing a traditional set mundu. The women dance around “Nilavilakku” which is traditional type of lamb made of brass singing songs about lords from Epics .
Vallam Kali, which is a type of Boat race is also a traditional event during Onam Festival. Aranmula vallamkali. Nehru Trophy Vallamkali ….are more famous races.. On the fourth day of the Onam Festival, people paint tigers on their bodies and visit the city .this is known as puli kali, the city of Thrissur is famous for this tradition .
there will be a different type of tigers and hunters in that team. They will step according to pancharimelam, which is a traditional music band. Another and tastiest part of Onam Festival is Sadya. On the day of thiruvonam, people make Onasadya. This would have many dishes along with fruits chips and deserts which is served on a banana leaf. The order of serving each dish is also special and each dish has a different story behind it. Without sadya, Onam is incomplete
Onam is a festival that is close to Malayali’s hearts.it helps to take each of Keralites back into their childhood memories. It also gave the message of the need of unity and love among each other .
