Onam
is the greatest festival of Kerala and is celebrated with
all pomp and gaiety by all keralites irrespective of caste,
color, creed or religion.
The
Story Behind Onam
Onam
is associated with the legendary King Mahabali who ruled
kerala in an age of plenty. Though an Asura king he was
the finest example of good governance and ruled his people
with justice and kindness. Regarding his reign it was
said that people didn't even have to lock their houses
during the night, as theft and robbery were unknown. Corruption
and betrayal were un heard of. And all people lived in
peace and harmony irrespective of financial status of
the citizen. Like wise the king was generosity personified
that he would give anything to anyone.
It
was during this time that the Hindu lord Mahavishnu decided
to test King Mahabali. He came to earth disguised as vamana,
a poor dwarf, and went straight to King Mahabali. He requested
the king that as he had no possession and was penniless
the King should be kind enough to bestow on him three
feet of land to live. The king hearing his meager request
laughed and told Vamana to take three feet of land from
where ever he wished. Suddenly Vamana began to grow and
he covered the whole earth by one foot and covered the
sky with other foot He then further demanded that he be
shown the additional space to put his third foot The king
soon realized that Vamana is no ordinary mortal and that
Vamana had come to test him. The king without hesitation
showed his head to keep the third foot.
Vamana kept his third foot on the King's head and the
King was soon pushed down to the very end of the earth
(Pathalam). The king having gone down to Pathala asked
Vamana for his true identity, Suddenly Vamana vanished
and instead Lord Mahavishnu stood before Mahabali. Mahabali
was overjoyed by seeing this. The lord told Mahabali that
he wanted to test him and that he had won the test. The
lord also asked Mahabali to ask for any boon for himself.
Mahabali told the lord that as he loved his people very
much he wanted permission to visit Kerala once in a year.
And the good lord acceded to his request. . Onam is thus
celebrated on the day in which Mahabali visits his favorite
folk.
Onam
celebration lasts Ten days and comes in the Malayalam month
of "Chingam (August-September). People begin putting
flower mats in front of their houses to welcome the King.
Competitions are also held for the laying of flower mats.
Keralites all over the world celebrate these ten days with
pomp and gaiety. They wear new dresses and visit as many
l temples as possible. Celebrations are accompanied by dances
like Thiruvathirakali, Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a few.
The most important agenda of the day, however, is the grand
lunch on the Thiuruvonam day, which no Keralite regardless
of his status will ever miss. There is a saying in Malayalam
that "Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam" which literally
means, "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if
we have to sell all our properties". Such is the importance
attached to the lunch on the Thiruonam day. The Thiruonam
day is rounded off with girls performing the Kaikottikkali
(Thiruvathirakkali) in the open, dancing around the traditional
brass lamp.
Athapookalam
The
Onam celebrations
commence with Athapookalam or the traditional floral carpet
made in the front courtyard of the houses. It commences
on the day of the Atham asterism, in the Malayalam month
of Chingam and gets over on the tenth day, which is marked
by the Thiruvonam asterism. It is a symbolic way to welcome
the mythological King Mahabali, who is supposed to visit
his subjects during the festival of Onam. An exquisite variety
of flowers are gathered to make Pookalam.
During the festival season, competitions are held in Atha
Pookalam or the traditional floral decoration, meant to
greet King Mahabali. The visual for the month has excerpts
from one such competition, held in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram.
Celebrations
At
Aranmulla, where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna
and Arjuna, thousands of people gather on the banks of the
river Pamba to witness the exciting Snake Boat races. Nearly
30 chundan vallams or snake boats participate in the festival.
Owned by villages bordering the river from the hills to
the low lying plains- a stretch of about 40 kilometers -
these boats are steered by oarsmen dressed in white dhotis
and turbans. Singing traditional boat songs, these oarsmen
splash their oars into the water to the rhythm of the songs.
They guide their boats and cruise along, seemingly like
a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat,
the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make
it a spectacular show of pageantry. Though ostensibly a
competitive event, the festival is more of a visual extravaganza.
To
date on the eve of Thiru Onam the boat Palliodam floats
down from Katoormana to the accompaniment of blowing of
conch shells, music and drum beating. Torches are lit and
snake boats accompany the procession. The colorful boat
festival is held on Uthruttathi
or the fifth day after Thiru
Onam.
Each
snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river
Pamba and is worshipped like a deity. Only men are allowed
to board or even touch a boat and that just barefoot. Every
year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell,
and carbon, mixed with eggs. The black mixture keeps the
boat strong and slippery in the water. The village carpenter
carries out annual repairs lovingly and people take pride
in their boat, which represents their village and is named
after it.
Tradition
demands that the Nambudiri Brahmin be at the main rudder
oar that is about 12 feet long. There are four main oarsmen
who control the movement of the boat. And in minutes the
boat can turn around just by the twist of the hand by the
chief oarsman. In the old days the villagers used to sit
in the boat in order of their castes but today the order
is changing though a certain pattern can still be distinguished.
Everyone- the carpenter, the barber, the goldsmith, the
blacksmith as well as the agricultural laborers - all have
a place on the boat. And in close harmony and magnificent
synchronization they pull at the oars. In Trichur, a vibrant
procession with resplendently caparisoned elephants is taken
out.
Onam
Special Recipes
Parippu Curry
Erissery
Sambar
Kootucurry
Avial
Naranga Pickle
Kalan
Manga Curry
Olan
Banana Chips
Thoran
Sarkarapuratty
Puliinji
Payasam
Injithair
Prathaman
Pineapple Pachhady
Lady's Finger Kichadi
Rice
is the main course. With rice, various kinds of dishes are
served... curries, 'upperies' (things fried in oil), 'pappadams'
(round crisp flour paste cakes of peculiar make), 'achchars'
(pickles of various kinds), 'payasams' and 'prathamans' (Desserts).
Fruits are also served, mainly plantain.
Onam
is associated with the legendary King Mahabali who ruled
kerala in an age of plenty. Though an Asura king he was
the finest example of good governance and ruled his people
with justice and kindness. Regarding his reign it was
said that people didn't even have to lock their houses
during the night, as theft and robbery were unknown. Corruption
and betrayal were un heard of. And all people lived in
peace and harmony irrespective of financial status of
the citizen. Like wise the king was generosity personified
that he would give anything to anyone. 
It
was during this time that the Hindu lord Mahavishnu decided
to test King Mahabali. He came to earth disguised as vamana,
a poor dwarf, and went straight to King Mahabali. He requested
the king that as he had no possession and was penniless
the King should be kind enough to bestow on him three
feet of land to live. The king hearing his meager request
laughed and told Vamana to take three feet of land from
where ever he wished. Suddenly Vamana began to grow and
he covered the whole earth by one foot and covered the
sky with other foot He then further demanded that he be
shown the additional space to put his third foot The king
soon realized that Vamana is no ordinary mortal and that
Vamana had come to test him. The king without hesitation
showed his head to keep the third foot. 
Onam
celebration lasts Ten days and comes in the Malayalam month
of "Chingam (August-September). People begin putting
flower mats in front of their houses to welcome the King.
Competitions are also held for the laying of flower mats.
Keralites all over the world celebrate these ten days with
pomp and gaiety. They wear new dresses and visit as many
l temples as possible. Celebrations are accompanied by dances
like Thiruvathirakali, Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a few.
The most important agenda of the day, however, is the grand
lunch on the Thiuruvonam day, which no Keralite regardless
of his status will ever miss. There is a saying in Malayalam
that "Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam" which literally
means, "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if
we have to sell all our properties". Such is the importance
attached to the lunch on the Thiruonam day. The Thiruonam
day is rounded off with girls performing the Kaikottikkali
(Thiruvathirakkali) in the open, dancing around the traditional
brass lamp. 
The
Onam celebrations
commence with Athapookalam or the traditional floral carpet
made in the front courtyard of the houses. It commences
on the day of the Atham asterism, in the Malayalam month
of Chingam and gets over on the tenth day, which is marked
by the Thiruvonam asterism. It is a symbolic way to welcome
the mythological King Mahabali, who is supposed to visit
his subjects during the festival of Onam. An exquisite variety
of flowers are gathered to make Pookalam. 
At
Aranmulla, where there is a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna
and Arjuna, thousands of people gather on the banks of the
river Pamba to witness the exciting Snake Boat races. Nearly
30 chundan vallams or snake boats participate in the festival.
Owned by villages bordering the river from the hills to
the low lying plains- a stretch of about 40 kilometers -
these boats are steered by oarsmen dressed in white dhotis
and turbans. Singing traditional boat songs, these oarsmen
splash their oars into the water to the rhythm of the songs.
They guide their boats and cruise along, seemingly like
a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat,
the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make
it a spectacular show of pageantry. Though ostensibly a
competitive event, the festival is more of a visual extravaganza.
To
date on the eve of Thiru Onam the boat Palliodam floats
down from Katoormana to the accompaniment of blowing of
conch shells, music and drum beating. Torches are lit and
snake boats accompany the procession. The colorful boat
festival is held on Uthruttathi
or the fifth day after Thiru
Onam.
Parippu Curry