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Onam: (August/September)
Celebrated
in the month of August / September, Onam is an important festival
of Kerala. It celebrates the bounties of nature and a year of good
harvest. Ten days of feasting, boat races, song and dance are a
part of the festivities.
Kerala's
most colourful festival, Onam celebrates the mythical King
Mahabali and his golden rule. It welcomes the spirit of King
Mahabali, and assures him that his people are happy and wish him
well.
The
story says that gods feared the wise and good rule of Mahabali,
the asura (demon) king, thinking that he might become too
powerful. They sought the help of Vishnu or the preserver in the
Hindu trinity, to curb Mahabali's power. Vishnu took the form of a
dwarf called Vamana and
approached
Mahabali. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's wisdom, Mahabali
granted him a wish. The Vamana asked for three paces of land and
the king Mahabali agreed to it. Vishnu as the dwarf
increased
his size and with the first step covered the sky, blotting out the
stars, and with the second, straddled the nether world.
Realising
that Vamana's third step will destroy the earth, Mahabali offered
his head as the last step. He was pushed to the nether world but
as Mahabali was so attached to his kingdom and the loved by his
subjects, he was allowed by the gods to return once a year.
Onam
(Thiruonam) is celebrated on the day when King Mahabali
comes from exile
to
visit his people.Onam (Thiruonam) is celebrated as the day of
Mahabali return from exile. The festivities begin ten days in
advance and floral decorations (Pookkalam) adorn every home. Caparisoned elephants in a
spectacular procession, fireworks and the Kathakali dances, are an
integral part of the festivities.
The
Vallamkali (boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and
is best seen at Aranmulai and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen
row huge and graceful odee (boats) with scarlet silk umbrellas.
Their number denotes the affluence of the family owning the boat.
Gold coins and tassels hang from the umbrellas. Oars dip and flash
to the rhythm of drums and
cymbals
in each boat.
In
the evening girls perform the Kaikottikkali
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