Happy onam everyone.
I found this excellent article which I think is worth reproducing here.
Onam - The Festival of Exuberance
Kerala is celebrating another New Year- Year 1179, according to the Malayalam calendar, also known as “Kollavarsham”.
Chingam or Bhadrapada, the first month of the calendar ushers in ONAM, the national fiesta of Kerala. After the rain drenched Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month of plenty. The sky becomes blue, the deep forest becomes greener and it is time to reap the harvest, time to celebrate and to rejoice along with the Nature. And Onam epitomizes the newfound vigour and enthusiasm about everything around. It is celebrated with traditional Malayalee fervour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Ona-kkodi and lots of merry making.
This picturesque ten-day harvest festival has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries now. There are records of Onam being celebrated during the Sangam Age. Onam festivities have been recorded during the time of Kulasekhara Perumals around A.D 800. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season.
Myths and beliefs
The myths and beliefs connected with Onam travel back to the times of King Mahabali, the mythical monarch of Kerala and undoubtedly the most loved ruler. The origin of Onam can be traced to the Puranas, like the Bhagavata Purana, Vamana Purana and so on.
Legendary King Prahladha was son of dreaded Demon emperor Hiranyaksha. Prahladha had a son -Veerochana. Mahabali was born as son of Veerochana. Bana was Mahabali’s son and according to the Puranas, 40 million demons were born to Bana. According to the “Maha Bhagavatham”, Prahladha renounced his kingdom after crowning his son Veerochana and went to forest to lead a hermit’s life. After Veerochana, Mahabali inherited the kingdom. Mahabali with his valour, administration of justice and strength of character, became “Mahabali Chakravathy” or Mahabali-the king of kings. During his regime the kingdom enjoyed peace and prosperity. Mahabali, who belonged to the Asura dynasty, was an ardent worshipper of Lord Vishnu.
He was an ambitious king too. He even vanquished Indra, the king of Devas in a war and proceeded to annexe his capital Amaravati. Aditi, the mother of Indra was worried. She, following the advice of her husband Kashyapa Prajapati, did strict penance and prayed to Lord Vishnu. At the end, Vishnu appeared before her and promised to help Indra in regaining his lost glory. And thus Vishnu was born to Aditi and Kashyapa Prajapati as Vamana, the sixth incarnation of the Lord. But for achieving his goal, Vamana had to find Mahabali’s weak point.
Mahabali, though a benevolent king loved by his people, was extremely proud and conscious of his generosity. He held a yagna (sacrificial ceremony) and proclaimed that request for alms of any kind will be fulfilled at the end of the ritual. Vishnu in the guise of Vamana reached Emperor Mahabali's Yagna Sala (holy spot where the yagna is held). The Emperor received him reverentially and asked Vamana what he wanted. Shukracharya, the guru or spiritual guide of the Asuras already knew that Vamana was none other than Vishnu. He personally wanted Bali not to fulfill even the least request of Vamana. Bali however ignored the warning of Shukracharya. Vamana asked for a piece of land, which he could cover with his three steps. Bali generously agreed.
As soon as Mahabali poured the sacrificial water into the palms of Vamana, the dwarf turned into a colossus. His first step covered the heavens. The second step covered the whole earth and his body the intervening space. There was no space left for the third step. When Thrivikrama (Lord of Three strides) asked where he should place his third foot, Mahabali with folded hands bowed his head and asked Vamana to place it on his head. Bali was thus sent to the Patalaloka (the nether world). It is said that at Bali's request, Vamana gave him permission to come once a year to meet his people. Emperor Bali stands forth as the great upholder of the plighted word. That is why the people of Kerala worship him to this day and celebrate the festival of Onam in his memory. This fascinating legend is depicted at the Suchindram temple in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu with artistic perfection.
Who was Mahabali?
Who was Mahabali? It is presumed that Mahabali was probably a Dravidian king, cherished by his people. It may be that the Indo – Aryans conquered him and then exiled him to a far off land with permission to come to meet his own people one in a year. Some believe that Mahabali was banished by Vamana and sent to the far away island of Bali, now part of Indonesia.
Though there is no historic record to support this claim, travellers like late S.K Pottakad from Kerala were amazed at the similarities between the people, culture and geography of Bali Island and Kerala. However a growing number of historians today reject the very idea of Aryan invasion itself. It may be surprising to note that Bana, son of Mahabali is a revered king in central Assam where he is known as Banraj. Mahabalipuram, also known as Mamallapuram may have been his capital or the main port of his kingdom. Mahabalikkara or Mavelikkara and Thrikakakara are two places in Kerala, which have mythical connections with the legend of Mahabali.
The popular Onam song ‘Maaveli Naadu vaaneetum kaalam, maanushar ellarum onnupole….’ reflects the glory of a bygone era of peace, equality and all round prosperity. Malayalees, noted for their enterprising nature, have carried with them this ethos of Onam and its nostalgia to the nook and corner of the world. Onam is a chance for every Keralite to strengthen the bonds with his roots. The merrymaking and get-togethers serves for him as a tonic to go out and conquer further heights.
Other legends
There are beautiful stories woven around this festival, other than that of King Mahabali.
According to another tale, once many years ago, a boat named Palliodam floated down the river laden with food. All of sudden on a turning in the river, the oarsmen tried to move it but were unsuccessful. The spiritual head, Bhattathiripad, believing that it was a bad omen climbed up the riverbank. He saw a hut where a dim light was glowing. When he went towards it he found a poor widow weeping, a few children were sleeping around the kitchen floor. She told the Nampoothiry that she had no food and that her children had gone to sleep hungry. The Nampoothiry brought out food from the boat and gave it to the poor family. Since then it has become a tradition amongst the Namboodiris to feed one poor person before the Onam feast.
Another legend has it that once about 10 kilometers up the river Pampa from Aranmula, the head of the Kattoor Mana, a Nampoothiry family, offered prayers and had a bath and waited to feed a poor man. After a long wait he began to pray to Lord Krishna. When he opened his eyes there stood before him a poor boy almost naked. The Nampoothiry took him to the river, gave him a bath, a new set of clothes and a splendid meal. Much to the surprise of the Nampoothiry, soon after eating the meal the boy disappeared. The search for the little boy led the Nampoothiry to the Aranmula Temple. But after a brief encounter the boy disappeared again. The Nampoothiry thereafter brought the food to Aranmula Temple every year during Onam.
“Atham pathinu Ponnonam”
The ten-day celebrations of Onam start on Atham day. Earthen mounds, which look somewhat like square pyramids, representing Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in the dung-plastered courtyards in front of the house and beautifully decorated with flowers. Known as ‘Onapookkalam’, it is a carpet made out of the gathered blossoms with one or two varieties of foliage of differing tints pinched up into little pieces to serve the decorator's purpose. It is a beautiful work of art accomplished with a delicate touch and a highly artistic sense of tone and blending. When completed, a miniature pandal, hung with little festoons is erected over it.
The important part of the festival opens in some localities on Thiruvonam day and in others on the previous day known as Utradam. On Thiruvonam day, King Mahabali is believed to visit every Malayalee home and meet his people. Houses are cleaned and decorated with flowers and traditional lamps. A fabulous display of fireworks turns the capital Thiruvananthapuram into a veritable fairyland. Sumptuous feasts are prepared in every household. The eldest member of each family presents clothes to all the members of the family. Even the poorest of the poor manage to find something for himself to celebrate the national festival in his own humble way.
Onam is celebrated with focus on different cultural aspects in each place. ‘Athachamayam’- a cultural procession takes place in the royal town of ' Tripunithura ' near Ernakulam-Kochi, on the Atham day of Chingam, which also marks the beginning of Onam celebrations. At the Vamanamoorthy temple in Thrikakakara, the annual temple festival coincides with Onam. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana and is directly linked to the mythological background of Onam.
At Shornur, Kathakali dancers in gorgeous costumes enact the legends. A strikingly impressive procession of caparisoned elephants is taken out at Thrissur.
The celebrations begin within a fortnight of the Malayalam New Year and go on for ten days. The last day called the Thiruvonam is the most important. All over the state, rituals along with new clothes, traditional cuisine, dance, and music mark this harvest festival.
In Thrissur, a vibrant procession with resplendently caparisoned elephants is taken out while at Cheruthuruthy, people gather to watch Kathakali performers enact scenes from epics and folk tales. Pulikali, also known as Kaduvakali is a common sight during Onam season. Performers painted like tigers in bright yellow, red and black, dance to the beats of instruments like Udukku and thakil.
At Aranmula, where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and Arjuna, thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to witness the exciting snake boat races. Nearly 30 chundan vallams or snake boats participate in the festival. Singing traditional boat songs, the oarsmen, in white dhotis and turbans, splash their oars into the water to guide their boats to cruise along like a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a spectacular show of pageantry too.
Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river Pampa and is worshipped like a deity. Every year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and the boat slippery in the water. The village carpenter carries out annual repairs lovingly and people take pride in their boat, which represents their village and is named after it.
The swing is another integral part of Onam, especially in the rural areas. Young men and women, decked in their best, sing Onappaattu, or Onam songs, and rock one another on swings slung from high branches.
Dances
This is time when Kerala's timeless art forms come alive around you. When the sound and fury of “Kathakali” _ a wondrous form of dance- drama evolved through 400 years mesmerize you. With an intricate set of gestures and mimes. Or when you give into the sensuous sashays of Mohiniyaattam - literally, “ the dance of the seductress” - performed by nubile young women in white and gold. Or amaze yourself with “ Theyyam” - a temple dance with aboriginal roots and psychedelic costumes. There are even charming dances performed specifically for Onam. “ Kailottikkali,” Koodiyattom,“ ” Thumbithullal“ and ” Pulikkali" - for instance. Done by a gay and merry crowd gathered in the front yards of decorated homes. Watch them sing and lilt and play. Or join in if you wish.
