Onam is an annual Harvest festival in the state of Kerala in India. It falls on the 22nd nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam, which in Gregorian calendar overlaps with August–September.
Vibrant and joyful festival of Onam is known by two different names in the state of Kerala – Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam and Sravanmahotsav or Sravanotsavam; These are the names of the tenth day of Onam festivities.
Onam celebrations include Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Pookkalam (flower Rangoli), Onathappan (worship), Onam Kali, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal (women’s dance), Kummattikali (mask dance), Onathallu (martial arts), Onavillu (music), Kazhchakkula (plantain offerings), Onapottan (costumes), Atthachamayam (folk songs and dance), and other celebrations. It is the New Year day for Malayalis.
Pookalam is an intricate and colourful arrangement of flowers laid on the floor. ‘Pookhalam’ consists of two words, ‘poov’ meaning flower and ‘kalam’ means colour sketches on the ground. It is considered auspicious to prepare Pookalam, also known as ‘Aththa-Poo’ during the festival of Onam.
ONAM Special Video:
VEDIK GYAN
According to Puranas Onam is connected with King Mahabali and the golden era of his reign. The prominent story behind Onam is about King Mahabali and Vamanan (the incarnation of Lord Vishnu).
According to the story, King Mahabali is sent to another world called Pathala by Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, Vamana.
King Mahabali, according to the legend of Onam, is said to be the grandson of Prahalad and son of Veerochana, who were demons or asuras.
So, Mahabali was an asura too, but he had no trait of it because he was fervid towards Lord Vishnu from his childhood. Due to the piety to Lord Vishnu, Mahabali attained power and strength. Once, Maha Bali was performing a yagna, when a short, young, radiant boy entered the yagna shala.
Maha Bali, as was the custom, welcomed this radiant youngster and asked him what he wanted.
The young boy requested for that much space, as could be measured by three footsteps of his.
Maha Bali agreed at once to the chagrin of his Guru Shukracharya who cautioned him that the guest was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself.
As the legend goes, no sooner were the three footsteps granted, the young Vamana assumed a gigantic form known as Trivikrama and with the first step of his foot, measured the whole earth.
Then with the second step of his foot, he measured the whole sky. These two steps covered the whole of Mahabali’s kingdom, the earth and the sky. Vamana then asked the king as to where he should place his third step.
King Maha Bali the grandson of the greatest of the Lord’s devotees, Prahlada joyfully offered his head for the third step in utter devotion and surrender.
The Lord recognizing his attitude of surrender blessed him and sent him to Pathala with a promise of making him Indra in the next Manvanthara and that He Himself would guard the gates of Pathala.
Acceding to the request of Maha Bali’s people, Vishnu granted Maha Bali permission to return to his kingdom from Pathala, once every year, to be in the midst of his people. This day is celebrated as the Onam festival.
LEARN Sanskrit-
जाङ्घ (Jangha) : Thigh
Seeta plays: Seeta kreedati ( सीता क्रीडति )
you play: ‘tvam kreedasi (त्वं क्रीडसि )
I play: ‘ aham kreedaami (अहं क्रीडामि )
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Ch Narmada Naveen Kumar |
