Mangaluru : This year, Onam will begin on Saturday 22nd August and will end on Wednesday 2nd September. Onam was declared the National Festival of Kerala in 1961.

Onam in short, is the harvest festival to celebrate the return of King Mahabali to Kerala.

The ten days are known as Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam and Thiruvonam. In this 10-day festival, the first and the last day are significant in Malayali households.

The day begins with an elaborate ‘Pookalam’, a flower arrangement similar to a rangoli. All the ladies of the house are dressed in white and gold ‘kasavu’ saree and gold jewellery in a symbolic representation of welcoming the king.

Festival History:

As per Hindu mythology, Mahabali was a benevolent asura king. While he was very kind to his subjects, he had a very high sense of pride of his wealth. To teach him the virtues of humility, Lord Vishnu took form of a poor dwarf brahmin called Vamana and came into his kingdom asking for three pieces of land.

Mahabali immediately accepted his request. Vamana then showed his true form and placed one foot on the land, one on the sky and asked the king for the third piece of land. Humbled, Mahabali offered Vamana his head as the third piece. This led to Mahabali’s death.

But his subjects were distraught learning about his death. For this, Lord Vishnu said that Mahabali can to return to the Earth once a year during the festival of Onam. It is believed that the king stays on Earth till the festival of ‘Karthikai’ in December.

Festival Celebrations:

Apart from the flower decorations, various sporting events are held during the festival. The most popular among them is the annual snake boat race, called the Vallamkali held on river Pampa. Men also participate in sporting events like archery and combat activities.

Women perform the Kaikottikali, a dance around a lamp singing songs in praise of Lord Mahabali.

Onam Sadya food:

No festival is complete without an array of food preparations celebrating the occasion. A must on Onam day is the ‘Onam Sadya’, which consists of a vegetarian meal of atleast 26 or more dishes. These include the avial (mix vegetables in coconut gravy), pulisheri (vegetables in curd gravy), sambar, upperi (banana chips) and the dessert palada pradhaman (thin steamed rice sheets cooked with milk and sugar).

In picture : Nidhi N Rao
By : Shwetha N Rao