Kerala's harvest festival Onam celebrates the return of the spirit of ancient King Mahabali. The legend revolves around the origin of the state of Kerala which was believed to be retrieved from the sea by Parashurama., one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. No wonder the people of Kerala call their state God's Own Country!


The legendary King Mahabali, though an Asura, was  wise, benevolent and well loved by his people. He was  supposed to have annexed all three worlds - earth,  heaven and the nether world. The Devathas, having lost  possession of heaven, appealed to Lord Vishnu. Vishnu  approached Mahabali in the guise of a  Brahmin  boy, Vamana, and asked for a boon of three  feet of land. When the boon was granted, Vishnu grew  to enormous proportions and with his first two steps  covered both the sky and the earth. Realising that he  was defeated, Mahabali offered his own head for  Vamana to take his third step. Though Mahabali was  vanquished, his people yearned for him. So Vishnu permitted him to return to earth to his people once a year. And so the people of Kerala celebrate.

On the day of Onam houses are cleaned and floral decorations put up to welcome the beloved ruler. People visit temples early in the morning and offer worship. Then begins the feast of delicious food on plantain leaves.

Snake boats manned by around a hundred oarsmen each, rowing to therhythms of cymbals and drums, race in thrilling contests at Aranmula, Champakulam and Kottayam in Kerala.

In Trichur, a vibrant procession with resplendently caparisoned elephants is taken out from the temple called Thrishurpooram. Here in Bangalore Onam is a big event as there is a sizable population of around six lakh Malayalees. Kerala Samajam organizes the big event of Pookalam competitions where all local clubs of Malayalees participate regardless of caste and religion. Pookalam is a traditional flower arrangement quitesimilar to Rangoli, but made entirely of flowers. Evening cultural programmes include Kaikottukali where women dressed in brilliant white silk saris dance in a circular movement. Kathakali performances are also organized in many places.

Many tourists including foreigners visit the city during the season

Let us join in the celebration of this joyous festival.

|