Onam 2021: Onam festivities commence worldwide by way of virtual mode! The 10-day lengthy Onam festival which celebrates the return of King Mahabali and the onset of the harvest season across the Kerala state has begun from August 12 this year. However, the mega festivities connected with Onam will commence only from Thiruvonam on Saturday, August 21. While the festival mostly traces its roots to the southern state of Kerala, the festival has come to be celebrated in most components of the nation and the world exactly where there is a considerable quantity of Malayalis. The festival more than the centuries has reserved a unique corner in the hearts of all Malayalis regardless of their religion and neighborhood as all Keralites welcome the arrival of King Mahabali and harvest season with vigour and enthusiasm. As per the Malayalam calendar, the festival is celebrated in the month of Chingam on the day of Thiruvonam nakshatram.
Date, History, Significance of Onam festival
The mythological interpretation across the years has been that King Mahabali was a deeply sort and generous ruler whose rule is deemed to be the golden era in the history of Keralites. Frustrated with the winning streak of King Mahabali, the story goes that the ‘Devas’ sought assist from Lord Vishnu who took the kind of Vamana.
Taking the dwarf kind of Vamana, it is believed that Lord Vishnu asked the mighty King Mahabali to grant him 3 wishes. The belief is that Vamana requested King Mahabali for land that measures 3 feet. King Mahabali readily agreed only to realise later that Vamana’s kind abruptly grew to encompass the complete estate of Mahabali in just two measures and the third step could not be placed. True to his word, the righteous King Mahabali provided his head as surrender. Moved by the righteousness of his act, it is believed that Lord Vishnu permitted Mahabali’s last want which was to return to earth when in a year for a period of 10 days to go to his people today and to see how pleased and prosperous the people today of his land are. The similar 10-day period is hence celebrated as the arrival of King Mahabali in the midst of his loving Malayali subjects.
The Onam festival has more than the centuries been celebrated by all communities of Kerala. The arrival of harvest also coincides with the Onam festival in the state of Kerala additional secularising the festival for all the communities.
Grandeur of Onam festival: Why Onam is not a religious festival
Arguably the most significant festival for the Keralites in the whole year, the festival is celebrated in a grand and exuberant manner. Grand feasts which are referred to as ‘onasadya’ consisting of mouth watering dishes are cooked enthusiastically on this day to welcome King Mahabali in every single home. Around 15 varied meals things are cooked as aspect of the Onasadya feast and provided on banana leaves with a wealthy wide variety of pickles and papad. A standard dessert referred to as ‘payasam’ made of rice, milk, sugar and coconut is mandated to be the most indispensable aspect of the Onasadya feast.
The festivity is not only confined to the wide variety of meals and desserts provided as the spirit of Onam is also celebrated in the kind of sports, and the popular Vallamkali boat race in the rivers and coastal waters of Kerala. Hundreds of oarsmen partake in the Vallamkali race and place up a competitive fight to attain the finishing line in the shortest feasible time. In addition to the necessary Vallamkali race, a myriad of conventional dance, songs and games are organised in the course of the festival to mark the return of King Mahabali and reassure him that his people today are pleased and prosperous. It is also believed that King Mahabali visits the home of all inhabitants in the state on the day of Thiruonam and all households leave no stone unturned in providing a grand reception to their beloved king by decorating their homes with flower carpets and cooking scrumptious dishes.
However, the pall of pandemic cast more than the nation considering the fact that the last one and a half years has forced the celebrations to stay muted. Even last year the grand festival was celebrated at a smaller scale in the state due to the worry of the spread of the pandemic. Worldwide, Keralites are taking to social media to celebrate Onam from home and sharing sadya pics to highlight the unique occasion they are celebrating.