Next Story
Newszop

Onam Has Now Become A Universal Festival

Send Push
From the India map, Kerala looks like a piece of bitter gourd, but as one actually reaches there, he would experience the sweetness of its culture, the taste of nature, the greenery of the rural areas and the tranquillity of backwaters. Now, when the month of Chingam, Shravan, dawns, it looks more captivating and more alluring. Homes decorated with flowers, people in new attire, pageantries, festoons and colours everywhere, one finds happiness all over.

Onam heralds the arrival of King Mahabali who once ruled over the land. Though King Mahabali belonged to the rakshasas, he was exceptionally noble, benevolent and a good administrator too. He loved his people and treated all equally. According to mythology, the celestial God, Vaman, came in the garb of a dwarf and sought three paces of land from Mahabali. When the generous King agreed, Vaman grew giant in size, measured the whole universe in two steps and asked for space for the third step. In all humility, Mahabali sat on the ground and requested for the third step to be placed on his head. It was not an act of God seizing power from a noble king. It was an act of blessing him and liberating him. He was given the boon of visiting his people in the month of Shravan; the visit is celebrated as Onam. Onam marks the grand reception which the people of Kerala accord to the spirit of the king who ruled the land and brought prosperity to them. They celebrate Onam as a grand event to show Mahabali that Kerala remains as happy and prosperous as when he ruled it.

Onam is the best season to visit Kerala, not only for Mahabali but for all outsiders. Every house's front yard is decorated with colourful flowers. Young and old alike, dressed in their best, define happiness by singing, dancing and feasting.

The celebrations are not confined to people's homes. The long boat race, unique to Kerala, becomes a significant event during Onam. Over time, Onam has assumed the colour of a national festival. Wherever Malayalis reside, they celebrate Onam with great enthusiasm and merriment, emanating the spirit of joy all over. Onam celebration has now become a universal festival. Onam is also a harvest festival because this is when a rich yield of paddy, cashew, coconut and bananas is obtained after laborious work. The prosperity and abundance that Onam symbolises is more evident during the feast, which constitutes one of the important parts of Onam celebrations. Payasam, the southern version of sweet kheer, is one of the main ingredients in the feast. Since it is widely sought after, it is freely distributed during social gatherings.

Narayana Guru, a strong advocate of Vedanta whose birthday also falls during the Onam season, emphasised the need for the qualities of detachment that King Mahabali symbolised. He said, "Let us build a society where there is only one caste, one religion, and one God."

Authored by: VS Krishnan



Loving Newspoint? Download the app now