Onam is the most imortant festival of kerala. The celebrations lasts for ten days. Of the the ten days, Atham and the tenthday, Thiru Onam are the great important.
Religious and traditional people of Kerala sincerely follow all the customs and traditions set by their ancestors. A number of cultures programmes, dances, songs, and feats are organised to commemorate the festival. Onam falls in the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayali calendar, and is celebrated during August-September as per the Gregorian calendar. It is celebrated to honour the demon King Mahabali, who is believed to return to Kerala during this festival.
Despite being a demon, King Mahabali was known to be generous and kind, and his reign is regarded as the golden era in Kerala, which is why his ‘return’ is so widely celebrated. According to Vaishnava mythology, it is said that Mahabali came to power by defeating the gods and taking over the three worlds. Gods were unhappy with his popularity and asked for Lord Vishnu’s help in a battle against the demon king. Vishnu agreed to help but did not want to participate in a battle as Mahabali was his ardent devotee. Instead, to help other gods, he took the form of a poor dwarf Brahmin (his Vamana avatar from the Dasavatara) and visited Mahabali, asking the king to grant him three wishes. The Brahmin requested the property right over a piece of land that measures “three paces”, to which Mahabali agreed. The dwarf suddenly grew in size and covered everything Mahabali ruled over in just two steps. For the third step, Mahabali offered his head.
But impressed by Mahabali’s devotion and good deeds, Vishnu allowed him to return to earth once a year — it is this annual visit that is celebrated with much fanfare as Onam. It is also a rice harvest festival.
Happy Onam to you Rabiya, Euphoria team and all the visitors.