Friday, September 09, 2011: Keralites today celebrated the harvest
festival ‘Onam’ with traditional gaiety marked by sumptuous feasts and
cultural and folk art performances.
Cutting across class, caste and creed barriers, people joined
together to celebrate ‘Thiruvonam’ in the memory of the mythical King
Mahabali. All temples in Kerala witnessed heavy rush of devotees since
early morning, while the elders presented ‘Onakkodi’ (new clothes) to
the family members.
‘Onasadya’ (Onam feast), comprising traditional delicacies such as
avial, sambar, thoran, kichadi, kalan, pulisseri, pappadam, pazham and
payasam, were major attractions in all the homes. This exclusive feast
is served on green plantain (banana) leaves in a traditional manner.
After the sumptuous ‘Onasadya,’ people engage in different recreational
activities.
Of these, the most important is the Kaikottikkali, also known as the
Tiruvatirakkali, performed by women. The typical games of men are
”Talapandu,” ”Kayyankali” and ”Onathallu.” Kummatti and Pulikkali are
two important folk art forms performed during this time.
Young men and women, beautifully dressed in colorful costumes, sing
”Onappaattu” (Onam songs) and play on the swing. Onam is celebrated in
the Malayalam month of ‘Chingam’ corresponding to the English months of
August or September. The festival marks the end of continuous monsoon
rainfall and beginning of the harvest season.
Onam celebrations start ten days ahead of the festival day. In front
of every house, ‘Athapookalam’ (decorations with flowers) are seen. They
are meant for welcoming the demon king Mahabali.
The festival is connected with the legend of King Mahabali under
whose rule prosperity and equality prevailed. Keralites believe the soul
of their beloved King Mahabali, who was very much attached to his
kingdom and his subjects, visits the land every year.
Lord Vishnu in his “Vamana Avatar,” granted King Mahabali a boon to
return once in a year to his beloved kingdom. The day of his return is
celebrated as the “Thiruvonam.”
The Kerala Government had launched Onam Week Celebrations, a cultural fest to provide an ambience to the festivities.
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