Onam is one of the greatest festivals of Kerala. It is the festival,
which the keralites celebrates unitedly without the differecnce of
caste and religion.
Onam is related with King Mahabali who was ruling kerala in a time.
He was an Asura king but was very nice and trueful. During his ruling
time it is said that people don't even lock their house in the night
because , there was no thieves,no corruption,no betrayal. And all
people lived unitedly, without the difference of rich and poor. All
where facing a good time. Like wise the king was so good that he will
give anything to anyone. At that time the Hindu lord Mahavishnu decided
to test King Mahabali. He came to earth as vamana a poor dwarf, and
went straight to King Mahabali. He told the King that he has nothing
and he want three feet of land to live. The king hearing this laughed
and told Vamana to take three feet of land from where ever he wishes.
Suddenly Vamana began to grow and he covered the whole earth by one
foot and covered the sky with other foot. And asked Mahabali where
is the space for the third foot. By seeing all these, the king understood
that Vamana is not an ordinary person, and Vamana has come to test
him so the king without hesitating showed his head to keep the third
foot. Vamana kept his third foot on the King's head and the King was
pushed down under the earth (pathala). The king after going to Pathala
asked Vamana his true identity, Suddenly Vamana vanished and Lord
Mahavishnu stood before Mahabali. Mahabali was overjoyed by seeing
this. The lord told Mahabali that he wanted to test Mahabali and he
has won in that. The lord also asked Mahabali to ask any boon for
himself. Mahabali told the lord that, he loved his people very much
so he wanted permission to visit Kerala once in a year. And the lord
gave permission for that. It is that day ie. the day Mahabali visits
kerala is celebrated as Onam.
Onam is a celebration of Ten days. It comes in the month of "Chingam"
according to Malayalam calender. People put flower mats in front of
their houses, to welcome the King. There will be competition for the
laying of flower mats; Keralites all over the world will be celebrating
this ten days will pomp and gaiety. They will wear new dresses, will
be visiting almost all temples which they can, they will be performing
lot of dances like Thiruvathira kali Thumbi Tullal etc. to name a
few and the most important thing is the grant lunch - Onasadya
they will be having on the Thiuruvonam day. Which is also called the
Fourth Onam. Whatever may happen they will not miss the Grant lunch.
There is a saying in Malayalam that "Kanam Vittu Onam Unnanam"
which means "We should have the Thiruonam lunch even if we have
to sell all our properties". They give that much importance to
the lunch on the Thiruonam
day.
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