Celebrating Onam- The Festival of Harvest

Onam is a major festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala for ten days during the Malayalam month of Chingam. It is one of the very few festivals celebrated by an entire state irrespective of caste, creed and religion which is celebrated to mark the harvests and homecoming of the legendary king mahabali. Legend has it that, during King Mahabali’s rule the land was very prosperous and people were so happy that even the gods felt challenged by his popularity. Thus a plot was planned to end his rule, by banishing him, with one boon granted for all the good he had done. Mahabali asked for the permission to visit his subjects once every year, and the day he visits is called Onam.

On this day, people of Kerala still try to maintain the fabled lifestyle that used to be followed during his reign, to let him know that they are happy.

Onam is a very colorful festival with many games in play known as Onakalli, a great banquet with 9 courses and over 13 dishes called the Onasadya, the great snake boat race ‘Vallamkali’, graceful dances performed by women known as Kaikottikali, intricate floral carpet designed in front of the houses to welcome Mahabali, putting up swings and many more such activities. All members of the family have various roles in the preparations for the festival. During Onam there are many small interesting customs like giving food (rice powder) to even animals like lizards and ants, or making a mud structure depicting the ‘Onathappan’. Many such rituals and activities have dwindled off through the passing of time, but the core spirit which is still intact, make up this rich cultural festival of Kerala.