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 Verdant
fields, emerald lagoons, coconut palms kissing the blue
sky, sounds of mridangams reverberating in temples, kathakali
dance-dramas enacting the legend of Mahabali, high-voltage
boat races! Welcome to the festival of what is often referred
to as 'God's Own Country'. Welcome to Kerala.
One
of the best times to visit Kerala is towards the end of
the monsoon when every one in Kerala is caught up in the
excited preparations for celebrating Onam.
| The Legend of Mahabali and the Feast of Onam |
According to legends the region, which is now called Kerala was ruled by the great
asura (demon) King Mahabali. This benevolent ruler was held in high regard and
loved by all his subjects. But, thanks to his growing popularity, the suras
(gods) began to feel their popularity and position being threatened. So they decided
to approach Vishnu (the preserver in the Hindu trinity of Gods in which Brahma is
the creator, and Shiva is the destroyer) to seek his help in curbing the power of Mahabali.
Lord Vishnu was persuaded by the Gods to intervene on their
behalf and, taking the form of the Vamana the dwarf, a Brahmin
(priest), he wend to meet King Mahabali. Vamana asked Mahabali
for a boon of land which he could cover in three paces.
Mahabali, thinking that this dwarf was asking for so little,
immediately granted him the boon and asked him to measure
off the land he wanted in three paces. With the grant of
this boon, Lord Vishnu, in the guise of the dwarf Vamana,
then began increasing his height till he became as huge
as the universe itself. In the first pace he covered the
entire earth. With his second step he covered both the heaven
and the netherworld. As Vamana was left with no place to
put his third step, King Mahabali, a man of his word, offered
his head on which Vishnu could place his third step.
Vamana, after placing his foot on Mahabali's head, then
reverted to his original form of Vishnu. Highly pleased
with the King's humility and offering, He accepted it. But,
before sending Mahabali to the netherworld, Vishnu suggested
that the King could ask for a boon which he would be happy
to grant. King Mahabali requested that he might be allowed
to return to his kingdom and his subjects, to whom he was
very attached, once every year.
Lord
Vishnu happily granted Mahabali this boon and, to this day,
the festival of Onam is celebrated in honour of the great
King Mahabali. It is believed that Mahabali visits earth
during the season of Onam (also called Thiruonam), a festival
that extends for five to ten days.
The festival of Onam is celebrated in either
late August or early September, depending upon the configuration
and position of the stars and the moon. It comes almost
a fortnight after Chingam - the New Year of Kerala.
Its celebration signifies the beginning
of the harvest season for it is now, after 3 months of the
monsoon, that the skies clear and there is a general atmosphere
of change and expectation amongst the farmers. Of course,
it signifies more than just the beginning of the harvesting
season as the various functions associated with it - be
they boat races or floral decorations - paint a picture
of a joyous and colourful Kerala. This is also the reason
that wherever in the world Malayalees(natives of
the land are known as, after Malayalam which is their mothertongue)
may settle - be it in the Gulf countries or the United States
of America - this festival is for them a time to meet, a
time of change, a time when employees get their bonus and
the kids get a break from school to celebrate the culture
of their homeland. This is also the occasion when people
settled abroad usually take their vacations to visit ;Kerala
and rejoice with their relatives and friends.
Although
Onam is a harvest festival, the spirit of Onam is far more
important, seeped in the folkore of the land and its values
of tolerance, brotherhood and unity. This singular festival
symbolises the Indian spirit of Vasudaiva Kutumbukam(the
world is my family or universal brotherhood), where people
belonging to various communities and religions come together
as one and partake of the festivities, reaffirming time-honoured
beliefs and values and portraying a secular aspect of India
to the world.
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