ONAM
_____________________
The
National Festival of Kerala
A
legend of Kerala is about the sweet memories of a period
of peace and prosperity in the distant past when Mahabali,
a celebrated emperor of the Asuras, was supposed to
be ruling over this land. His period is believed a have
been the golden age in the history of the country. A
popular folk song narrates the glories of that period.
When Mavely ruled, all men were equal, they were leading
a life of happiness and nobody had any calamity-thus
goes the song. There was neither dishonesty nor deception,
nor was there any instance of false utterance, use of
counterfeit measures of other kinds of unfair practice.
Perfect harmony, communal and otherwise, prevailed.
In short it was ideal welfare state, the legend tells
us.
But this
golden age came to a tragic close when Mahabali was
expelled from his Kingdom by Vamana , the dwarf incarnation
of Vishnu. Thus by the designs of the jealous Gods,
the glorious reign of the Asura emperor came to an end.
But his grateful subjects, request that their former
ruler might be permitted to visit the land once a year,
was granted. The time for his annual visit was in the
first Malayalam month Chingom (August-September) and
this occasion became one of Jubilation throughout the
land, reminiscent of the prosperous times of Mahabali.
Whatever be
the truth behind this legend, Onam has for last several
centuries been a grand national harvest festival in
which all sections of the people participate with extreme
Jubilation.
As has
been mentioned earlier the festival falls in Chingom,
the Malayalam month corresponding to August-September.
The festival is supposed to begin from the lunar asterism
Atham which falls ten days before the asterism Thiruvonam.
The preparations for the celebration begin on the Atham
day. The Thiruvonam is the most important day of the
festival. In the front yard of the house Athapoovu (floral
decoration) is made for ten days from Atham to a Thiruvonam.
The idol of Thrikkakkara Appan made of clay is placed
in the middle of the floral decoration, a clear example
of the aesthetic sense of the Malayalam who do it with
a sense of devotion.
On the
Thiruvonam day every one bathes and offers worship in
temples early in the morning. Then the gayest new garments
are put on. Presents are distributed to the younger
members of the family. Then follows the onam feast of
delicious food served on plantain leaves. Members of
families, staying far away from native places make it
a point to visit their ancestral homes to celebrate
the festival in the company of their kith and kin. Keralites
celebrate onam by organising community feast, cultural
programmes, etc.
After the feast there will be sports and games, both
indoor and outdoor, in which both men and women of all
ages participate. Mack fight, ball games, card and chess
play are the favorites of the menfolk whereas women
find pleasure in `Oonjalattom, thumbithullal, Thiruvathirakali,
Kaikottikali, etc. Boat races (regatta) also form another
item of onam festival which attract thousands of people
including tourists from outside the state.
Of late,
the state Government itself has taken the initiative
to celebrate Onam season as tourist festival with the
motive of attracting tourists. Various cultural formS,
old and new, are presented in all important towns in
the state during the Festival
