Onam, the festival of Malayalee community is being celebrated in a colourful way. The festival represents the spirit of the Malayalees in India in general and all over the world in particular. The people of Kerala believe that on the Thiruonam day King Mahaballi visits his subjects and hence the day is marked by Onasadhya in traditional Kerala style.
Onam feast is a nostalgic memory for every Keralite who live away from their place. Thirty one types of dishes are served in plantain leaves to the members.
The festival marks the home coming of legendary King Mahabali. According to Hindu mythology, Mahabali reaches his old kingdom from the nether world to meet and bless his citizen. He is also popularly called Maveli and Onathappan. Mahabali is the son of Virochana and grandson of Prahlad, the devout son of demon King Hiranyakashipu. He also belonged to the Asura (demon) dynasty but was an ardent worshipper of Lord Vishnu. Mahabali was greatly respected and was considered to be wise, judicious and extremely generous. Everybody was happy and the rich and the poor were treated at par. There was neither crime, nor corruption prevalent in his kingdom. It is said that people did not even lock their doors just like it happens in Shani Shingnapur. There was no poverty, sorrow or disease in his kingdom.
Various elements of culture are interwoven in Onam including ‘Onatthappan’, ‘Vallam Kali’, ‘Kazhchakkula’, ‘Atthachamayam’, ‘Onapottan’, ‘Pookkalam’, ‘Pulikali’, ‘Onavillu’, ‘Thumbi Thullal’, etc. ‘Pookalam’ is the name of a flower mat which is seen outside the house of every Keralite. This is prepared by arranging colourful attractive flowers in a unique pattern, and is one of the most significant rituals of Onam. The flower mat is a symbol of welcome for the great king Mahabali.
People prepare for the festival of Onam by tidying up their houses and beautifying or decorating them. Children rise-up early in the morning to prepare for celebration all the ten days since Atham. Flower decorations are continued until the sunset of grand celebration day, Thiruvonam. With the passage of time things have changed a lot. The sight of children wandering for flowers is also rare in villages. Thumpa and Thechy have become rare today. Flowers are imported from other states. Artificial flowers have also become a replacement of natural flowers. But whenever Onam comes, expatriate Malayalees start to think about the cultural wonders of Kerala. It is one of the Indian festivals which bring together all the masses irrespective of their castes and creed.
C.K Subramaniam
