May this Onam bring
All peace, gaiety & success
For you and your family
May you harvest the same
Through out your life
Happy Onam
Onam is a festival celebrated by the people of Kerala. It is also the Harvest Festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the fourth Onam Day. It is also a secular festival, celebrated by people of all religions and castes with the same zeal. The festival falls during the Malayalam Month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival . Also, it is one of the very few festivals that is celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as
Vallam Kali
Pulikkali
Pookkalam
Onatthappan
Thumbi Thullal
Onavillu
Kazhchakkula
Athachamayam
Thiruvathira kali
Onakkodi
The ten days of Onam are celebrated with great fanfare, by Malayalees. Of all these days, most important ones are the first day, Atham, and the tenth and final day, Thiru-Onam (Thiruvonam) that is tomorrow(28th of August ). The rich cultural heritage of Kerala comes out in its best form and spirit during the festival.
Schools,colleges,offices sab jagah Onam celebrate karthe hai..conduct different games..Pookalam competitions(flower carpet),special sadhya(onam feast)
and most of the girls wear set saree for celebration and boys wear mundu and shirt
Significance
Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice Harvest Festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali has been revered by the people of Kerala since prehistory.The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. The deity Vamana, also called Onatthappan, is also revered during this time by installing a clay figure next to the floral carpet (Pookalam) . Mahabali's rule is considered the golden era of Kerala. The following song is often sung over Onam:
... (Translation)
When Maveli ruled the land,
All the people were equal.
And people were joyful and merry;
They were all free from harm.
There was neither anxiety nor sickness,
Deaths of children were unheard of,
There were no lies,
There was neither theft nor deceit,
And no one was false in speech either.
Measures and weights were right;
No one cheated or wronged his neighbor.
When Maveli ruled the land,
All the people formed one casteless races
History
Taking advantage of the Yagam and Mahabali's declaration, Vamana (Vishnu disguised as a Brahmin) came to the Yaga-Shala. Mahabali received the Bharmin boy with all traditional honours and courtesies. Mahabali expressed that it was his good fortune that Vamana had chosen to honour him with his presence. He asked Vamana what gift he desired, and said he was ready to fulfill anything. Vamana smiled and said: "I do not ask for anything great. All I need is land equivalent to three paces of my feet".
On hearing this, Mahabali's perceptive guru, Shukracharya, told Mahabali that the boy was no ordinary Brahmin, but Lord Vishnu Himself. He advised Mahabali not to promise the lad anything. But Mahabali was a king who would never go back on his word, considering it sinful to do so. Shukracharya insisted that he should not fulfill the demand of Vamana as he had come to deprive him of all his possessions.
However, all attempts of Shukracharya to dissuade Mahabali proved futile. Mahabali considered everyone who came to him for help as god himself and never refused them anything. Mahabali told his Guru: "Prana (life) and Maana (honour) are like the two eyes of a person. Even if life goes, honour should be protected. Knowing that the person that has come now is the Lord Himself, I should be the most fortunate one as the Lord, who gives everything to mankind, is seeking something from me." Mahabali gladly said that even if Vishnu himself were to come to his sacrifice and ask for anything, he would deliver it.
Mahabali, determined to honour his promise, begged the pardon of his Guru for disregarding his advice, and resumed his promise to Vamana.
