The time when Kerala is at its best – Onam, the most celebrated festival of Kerala, remarks the arrival of the beloved legendary King of Kerala, “Mahabali”. Every Keralite will have a thousand words to say about Onam. It’s a carnival lasting for ten days which brings out the best of art, culture, tradition and taste. Out of this “Thiruvonam” is the most important day. Onam is defined as the harvest festival of Kerala which falls in the month of “Chingam” according to the Malayalam calendar, usually during August or September.
Legend says that, once there was a wise, generous, judicious and greatly respected King named “Mahabali”. During his reign, Kerala was in her golden ages, there was no difference between the rich and the poor, no poverty and hunger. The king became so popular that even the Gods were envious. Then Lord Vishnu came down in the avatar of “Vamana” and sent the King into the underground world “Pathalam”. “Vamana” accepted the request of the King “Mahabali” to visit his people once every year. So Onam was celebrated to welcome the King. Even though this story is still a legend, every Keralite still keeps this story to his mind and heart, and this story keeps trickling down through generations.
Its holiday season during onam, most schools and colleges are closed down for Onam holidays. Children and youth take a major initiative for the celebrations. There are many activities happening during Onam, which witness active participation of every malayalee irrespective of religion and caste. Children would be all around playing games, there would be swings tied up to big trees. The best of the weather in Kerala is during the season of Onam during August and September, warm and sunny moderate climate. The land looks vibrant, being considered as the harvest festival too, the fields look brilliant with farmers happy to get their harvest. That makes the Celebration in the villages more like an extravaganza. Everywhere it’s the time for homecoming most people around the world try to come home to celebrate Onam. Everybody plans this out quite in advance and it is hard to get a ticket in the last minute.
The series of memorable events come to the mind of anyone who has celebrated Onam, some of them for example would be the Snake boat race that happens very close to the Festival which makes it a part of the festival. Onam will not be complete without the flower carpet called “Pookalam”, the Onam ” Sadhya ” – the common lunch during onam with almost 25 dishes served in plantain leaf, “Kaikottikalli”- a art form performed by Kerala women in the tradition Kerala half saree, Elephant processions, “Pullikalli” men dressed like tigers would dance, and series of games. “Vadamvalli” a common game during Onam – This is about two groups pulling a single rope from two sides with a tied mark in the centre, whoever pulls the tied mark to their side will win the game. This game symbolizes group effort and strategy and you can find the strongest and the heftiest ones at the rear end of the formation.
The Nehru trophy boat race is organized during 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 arrived. Large numbers of people gather to see the boat race, which is considered a tight competition in the villages 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. Even though the even happens in backwater, the vibe is all around the state. “Pookalam” is the most interesting and participative activity during Onam, this is initiated by women and children. Nowadays flower carpet competitions happen all over the state. The most common place where you can find these competitions is the schools and colleges. Children bring flowers, and make a flower carpet in front of their house. Long pyramid structures are kept besides the carpets, these clay models represents “Mahaballi”. On “Thiruonam” day the” Sadhya” (lunch) would be at the “Tharavadu” – traditional home with all the family members. “Sadhya” is the traditional lunch of Kerala with almost twenty five different dishes served in a plantain leaf with rice as the major ingredient. Women take active participation in the preparation of “Sadhya”. It is normally consumed by sitting on the floor with the legs crossed; the leaf would also be in the floor. And after that there would be “Payasam” (Dessert) served on the leaf itself. “Payasam” may be of different variety, at least there would be three varieties of “payasams” served in the end.
By the end of the tenth day everyone would be in their blues saying goodbye to family members and “Mahaballi”. The holidays are over and it’s time to get back to schools and work. The experience of joy and fun with all family and friends during the festive season is the reason why everyone comes back home for Onam.