Happy Onam : History of King Mahabali’s

Onam is the traditional festival of Malayalees originated from the state of Kerala. Onam is a religious, cultural festival that’s celebrated by the Malayali community around the world.

Onam is a Godlike festival from God’s own country. It is the time of the year when Kerala is exhilarated with trumpets, drums, elephants, boat races, dances, art, music, floral decorations, lights, colours, rituals and the delicious Onasadya without which the celebrations are incomplete. Whether you’re a Malayali or not, the spirit of Onam is Universal

Falling on the month of Chingam in the Malayalam calendar the festival overlaps with the months August-September on the Gregorian calendar. In 2019, the most important day of Onam – Thiru Onam – will be celebrated on September 11th.

Onam is welcomed with a diverse range of activities and celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm. The life of the festival lies in its cultural practices with a repertoire of events ranging from boat races, dance forms, florals, colourful art, food and traditional clothing.

History

Onam marks King Mahabali’s visit to his people. This 10-day festival is a joyous time for all Malayalees, who welcome their king on this day.

Onam is also known as a harvest festival. Aesthetically laid out flower designs in front of the house with a variety of colourful flowers (pookalam) evoke a sense of plentitude and prosperity, which Onam represents. Not to speak of women adorned with gold ornaments and new clothes. Every bit of the Onam celebration is a nostalgic reminder of the bygone glory of the past. The sumptuous sadya (an elaborate feast)is followed by kaikottikali ( a graceful dance), Tumbi tullal and other folk performances like kummatikali and Puli Kali.

Onam commemorates the homecoming of the great asura King Maha Bali from Patala Loka.

Maha Bali, the grandson of Prahalada, was a strong and learned king who respected knowledge. Once, Maha Bali was performing a yagna, when a short, young, radiant boy entered the yagna shala. Maha Bali, as was the custom, welcomed this radiant youngster and asked him what he wanted. The young boy requested for that much space, as could be measured by three footsteps of his.

Maha Bali agreed at once to the chagrin of his Guru Shukracharya who cautioned him that the guest was none other than Lord Vishnu Himself.

As the legend goes, no sooner were the three footsteps granted, the young Vamana assumed a gigantic form known as Trivikrama and with the first step of his foot, measured the whole earth. Then with the second step of his foot, he measured the whole sky. These two steps covered the whole of Mahabali’s kingdom, the earth and the sky. Vamana then asked the king as to where he should place his third step.

King Maha Bali the grandson of the greatest of the Lord’s devotees, Prahlada joyfully offered his head for the third step in utter devotion and surrender.

The Lord recognizing his attitude of surrender blessed him and sent him to Pathala with a promise of making him Indra in the next Manvanthara and that He Himself would guard the gates of Pathala.

Acceding to the request of Maha Bali’s people, Vishnu granted Maha Bali permission to return to his kingdom from Pathala, once every year, to be in the midst of his people. This day is celebrated as the Onam festival.