Celebrating Onam
Updated: Jan 15, 2021
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Celebrating Onam
Onam, a festival celebrated on the homecoming of King Mahabali is celebrated in Kerala and lasts for 4 days. It is a day to welcome their benign king which is witnessed by wonderfully decorated elements, Kathakali dancers dancing on the beats of the songs, snake boats ready at the shore for the fierce competition and every house beautified with floral decorations to welcome King Mahabali.
It is a secular festival that is celebrated by people of all religion and caste.
Both men and women wear traditional clothes where men wear cream colour Mundu and Jubba while the women wear a white colored saari with golden border. They have a lavish lunch called Sadhyaistav in which 26 varieties of vegetarian food is served.
The story of Onam as we know is that long time ago an Asura named Mahabali ruled all over Kerela. He was a wise, benevolent and judicious ruler who was loved by his people. People of his kingdom were considered equal and they lived with prosperity as well as justice. It was said that there was a balance of peace, equality and justice in his rule.
Seeing this Gods grew envious of his acts and growing popularity. Hence Lord Vishnu decided to transform himself into a poor Brahmin and asked to fulfill his wish. Lord Vishnu asked for the amount of land he could measure in three paces. Mahabali accepted and Lord Vishnu in his first step covered the whole sky and in the second covered the Land. For the third place Lord Vishnu couldn't find any place, and asked where should I keep the third step?
Mahabali realised that the Poor Brahmin was none other than God Vishnu in disguise and offered to keep his feet on his head and as soon as Lord Vishnu kept his feet, Mahabali was banished into the underworld. Moved with the integrity and humility, he granted Mahabali a boon. Since he was so attached to his kingdom and his people, he was allowed to return once a year from his exile which is celebrated as a four day festival for his homecoming.
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