IMPORTANT:
Reader advised to imagine as many colors as they can and read the following ways of celebrating Onam.
Okay. Quick! Imagine an Indian festival. Done? Done!
Now Imagine it with minimal noise pollution, flower rangolis, a 9-course meal, really fun games with the family, feeding animals of all kinds and finally folk dance!
If you're from Kerala or if you've been there, this should paint a perfect picture in your mind and the following part should make you feel all kinds of feels. And if you don't know what this is about; our Onam experts have got you. ;)
Onasadya Vallamkali
Onam generally starts with the ladies of the house making designs with different types of flowers in the entrance of their houses. This is known as Pookalam and the design changes with each coming day. At places, there are also Pookalam competitions. This is followed by the grand meal preparation with everybody's help and is known as Onasadya. This is a nine to eleven course meal and is served traditionally on Banana leaves. Now, who hasn't thought about experiencing that! The food is offered to the gods in small portions prior to the meal.
If you're an adolescent or an adult you can engage in Onakalikal, which refers to the games played during the festivals. These games involve from ball games to archery (a.k.a Ambeyyal, which used to happen in ancient times) to Vallamkali which is the infamous boat race with about 100 men on each boat competing with each other!
Now for the wholesome part, with all the pomp and posh, the very one of a kind tradition that Onam has is the Elephant Procession, wherein the elephants are decorated with flowers and ornaments of gold and other metals. This is held in Thrissur and is the most awaited event of all, reason why is that these huge and adorable animals interact with the crowd with small gestures and even dance.
Of course, Onam has a good number of folk and traditional dances performed by women. Kaikottikali is a clap dance performed on the occasion of Onam. Women performing the dance sing praises of King Mahabali. Thumbi Thullal is another form of dance performed in a circle.
Why is Onam celebrated?
Aside from being the most quintessential homecoming festival, 'Onam' the harvest festival, is also a very cheerful and merry occasion for both the young and old. And like any other festival from our diverse variety of cultures, it has the spirit of togetherness at its heart.
Onam too has a mythological origin story from back when King Mahabali reigned over the South. Mahabali was the most truthful king, he was just, and Kerala had never observed better days than they did during his rule. Which is ironic to say because he was born an 'Asur' and later turned into a 'Sur'.
What's next, here is the story...
Mahabali’s kingdom was the one where anybody who sought anything never left empty-handed. And there was a sense of concern and jealousy amongst the ‘Devs’. They thought that their supremacy was at stake here and sought help from Lord Vishnu. As a test, Vishnu disguised himself as a poor Brahmin, ‘Vamana’. Vishnu requested Mahabali a piece of land from King Mahabali. The generous king granted the wish and said that he could have as much land as he wanted. As this was a test, Vamana said that he wanted as much land as could be covered by his three steps. The King was surprised, and unaware that it was Lord Vishnu himself, but agreed to deliver.
‘(Vamana Avatar and King Mahabali’)
As the King agreed, Vamana grew taller than the highest mountains and his first step covered all the land there was, his second step covered the whole of skies. Mahabali came to the realisation that this was no ordinary Brahmin and was a divine body and his third step will destroy the earth. Legend has it that Mahabali stood true to his words and values and sacrificed himself with everything else he had. He bowed in front of Vamana and asked him to place his third step on his head, keeping his promise, which pushed him to netherrealm. And after revealing his true identity, as a reward Lord Vishnu blessed him to be remembered by the people of Kerala in the form of Onam. True story.
Now that you have got the Introduction to Onam: Chapter 1 (& only from our side at least), give us a chance to make you experience this festival with our best attempts at organizing Pookalam and Onasadya at your offices and contact us for more information.
(We’re still talking to the elephants but they are busy with being adorable and walking into trees)
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