Happy Onam!
Onam is a festival celebrated in the state of Kerala and marks the beginning of the Kerala new year, as well as the beginning of the summer season where all the crops are harvested. It also celebrates the homecoming of the asura king Bali. The demon king is the grandson of Prahalad and rules over the netherworld. Lord Vishnu, in form of Vamana, humbled the prideful king by measuring three steps of land with his foot and by keeping the last step on Bali’s head. After defeating him, Lord Vishnu promised Bali that he could return to earth from hell once a year.
This festival is one of the most important festivals for the people of Kerala and is celebrated in every household with great pomp and splendour. Women decorate the floors of their homes with flower rangolis (poo kolam) and dance happily with each other. People go to temples and pray for prosperity and good health. People prepare huge a huge feast fit for a king containing a vast variety of dishes that is served on a banana leaf, known as the Onam Sadhya. The feast itself consists of dishes such as rice, sambar, erissery, thoran, avial, kootu, and ends with a glorious payasam that has a slight tinge of pink. In Kerala, boat races and different shows on various art, dance and music, as well as martial art forms take place. More importantly, many families take the opportunity to visit, spend time and wish each other a happy and prosperous Onam.
I hope you enjoyed this short article about the significance of Onam and how it is celebrated. Let me know how you and your family celebrate this grand festival!