Keralites Celebrated Their Biggest Festival ‘Thiruvonam’

• Onam festivities began worldwide through virtual model this year due to covid pandemic.
• The 10-day long Onam festival which celebrates the return of King Mahabali and the onset of the harvest season across the Kerala state has begun from August 12 this year.
• However, the mega festivities associated with Onam began only from Thiruvonam on Saturday, August 21.

History of Onam Festival

• The mythological interpretation across the years has been that King Mahabali was a deeply kind and generous ruler whose rule is considered to be the golden era in the history of Keralites.
• According to Vaishnava mythology, it is said that Mahabali came to power by defeating the gods and taking over the three worlds.
• Gods were unhappy with his popularity and asked for Lord Vishnu’s help in a battle against the demon king.
• Taking the dwarf form of Vamana, it is believed that Lord Vishnu asked the mighty King Mahabali to grant him three wishes.
• The belief is that Vamana requested King Mahabali for land that measures three feet.
• King Mahabali readily agreed only to realise later that Vamana’s form suddenly grew to encompass the whole estate of Mahabali in just two steps and the third step could not be placed.
• True to his word, the righteous King Mahabali offered his head as surrender.
• Moved by the righteousness of his act, it is believed that Lord Vishnu allowed Mahabali’s last wish which was to return to earth once in a year for a period of 10 days to visit his people and to see how happy and prosperous the people of his land are.
• The same 10-day period is therefore celebrated as the arrival of King Mahabali in the midst of his loving Malayali subjects.

Grandeur of Onam festival

• The festival is celebrated in a grand and exuberant manner.
• Grand feasts which are called ‘onasadya’ consisting of mouth watering dishes are cooked enthusiastically on this day to welcome King Mahabali in every house.
• Around 15 varied food items are cooked as part of the Onasadya feast and offered on banana leaves with a rich variety of pickles and papad.
• A typical dessert called ‘payasam’ made of rice, milk, sugar and coconut is mandated to be the most indispensable part of the Onasadya feast.
• The festivity is not only confined to the variety of food and desserts but also celebrated in the form of sports, and the famous Vallamkali boat race in the rivers and coastal waters of Kerala is carried.