ONAM (Thiruvoonam) is one
of the most important festivals celebrated in Kerala. It is the festival of Malayalees. This is celebrated by one and all without caste or creed. This year
it is falling on 28th of August 2015. This festival commemorates
with the visit of Demon King Mahabali from the netherworld to visit his people.
The story is Kerala was ruled by King Mahabali. During his regime, people were
very happy and prosperous. Everything was in plenty. He was a generous king and he was taking care of his people
well. The only defect in him was he was egoistic. Seeing his good ruling, the
Devas were jealous and approached Mahavishnu to subdue him. Mahavishnu agreed and appeared before
Mahabali in the form of a Vamana (dwarf) and asked for mud for his to take
three steps. Even though his Guru pursued him to stop giving, he has agreed to
do so since he was a generous King. With his first step he covered the earth,
with the second step he was patala and
the entire universe covered with the two steps. Then Vamana asked where to keep
the third step and Mahabali asked Vamana to put his third step on his head to
send him to the Patala. Since he was so fond of his kingdom and pupil, he
requested Vamana to allow him to come to see his kingdom and people once in a
year. Every year the day he comes to visit kerala is celebrated as Thiruvoonam
.
The festival starts in the month of August-September every year. It begins on the day of Atham Nakshathra and ends on Thiruvoonam day. The ten days festival starts with Pookalam. Early morning in front of every house, children decorate big pookalams with nice fresh flowers. It is also a harvest season as the New Year starts with the Malayalam month Chingam To receive Mahalabali, Mahabali’s idols are made in mud and kept in front of the house and do Poojas. People wear new clothes. Big discounts are given during this period in shops for the people to have purchases. The last four days of the festival the entire state celebrates with cultural programmes, vallamkali, pookalam, pulikali etc.
Onasidhya is one of the important thing in this festival. The onasadhya will be comprising of so many dishes, payasam, pappadam and people squat on the floor and eat in banana leaves. It is a wonderful site to see and so many tourist visit Kerala during this season. Since it is a harvest season, Kerala State looks beautiful and magnificent. The weather is pleasant, sunny and warm right time for celebrations. Paddy fields seen brilliant as they stand with golden paddy grains. It is boom time for fruits and flowers. Farmers are happy with plenty of harvest to celebrate this festival. At the time of Mahalbali’s visit the State of Kerala looks plenty in all things. Let us all welcome the Great King Mahabali to visit the State of Kerala and its people to know that people are happy , gay and joyful.
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