The only secular celebration of Kerala, Onam, is its national festival. Irrespective of the cast and creed, being rich or poor, keralites celebrate it with much passion. Though there are many myths attached to it, of which the yearly visit of King Mahabali to see his happy and prosperous people is one among them, basically it is the harvest festival of Kerala. This festival comes in the first month “Chingam” of the Malayalam calendar. Since it is coming after a season of heavy monsoon, the sun seems to be brighter with its golden rays while the nature itself is loaded with fragrant flowers around.
It is believed that King Mahabali was allowed by Lord Vamana to come and see his people enjoying the richness and blessing offered by mother nature. It commemorates an era of oneness, honesty and trust among the fellow beings during the reign of King Mahabali. The celebration begins ten days prior to ‘Thiruvonam’ with a simple floral carpet made in front of each house. As the days progress, the richness, size and variety of flowers used for the floral carpet goes on increasing. Each day’s floral carpet has its own significance. There was a time when the younger ones of various families roam around the village to collect the flowers for the floral decoration. On the tenth day, Thiruvonam, the whole family gather to celebrate with lots of fun and flavor. The mouth watering traditional feast is the main attraction of the day. It symbolizes the prosperity and a successful harvest with dishes made of all kinds of vegetables and the fresh rice. After the feast, ladies take pleasure in their own world with rhythmical dance named Thiruvathira or Kaikottikali where the dancers make graceful movements in a circle. Kids gather together with their own games.
Though the prime legend behind Onam is associated with King Mahabali and Lord Vamana, we can find lot more related stories while travelling from north to south of Kerala. Accordingly the celebrations, rituals and practices vary in its own way. When traditional rituals are of prime importance in some places, snake boat race and folklore art forms are grabbing the show somewhere else, especially the Central Kerala. Nehru Trophy Boat Race and Aranmula Boat Race which has caught the attention worldwide, are some of them. The difference lies not only in rituals and celebration patterns, but also in the style of traditional feast. While the central and south Kerala opt for strict vegetarian meal, in north Kerala non-vegetarian items are a must. Beyond these disparities, Onam uphold the feel of oneness among the people of Kerala.
Now-a-days commercialization of an occasion is seen all over. Onam is the season of shopping festival in Kerala to attract not only the indigenous customers, but also those who visit this Gods Own Country during the festive season. It is the time of ‘Discounts’ and ‘Exchange Offers’. No wonder if our new generation takes these national festivals as a period of ‘Offers’ rather than a chance to know our values. To some extent this have a negative effects on the process of passing the traditional value to them.
Events are organized as part of promoting tourism. Famous ‘Athachamayam’ at Thripunithura of Ernakulam district in Kerala is a traditional procession originally conducted by the ‘Raja of Kochi’ . He was escorted by various other rulers from different parts of Kerala along with community leaders of that time declaring the existence of secularism in the state. The procession was associated with the annual festival of Thrikakkara Temple, which is having Lord Vamana, the incarnation of Lord Vishnu, as the deity which is rare of its kind. Today ‘Athachamayam’ is organized by the Government of Kerala as part of Tourism which there by conserves a vanishing tradition.
Onam is now a global celebration owing to the presence of Keralites worldwide. In this fast moving world our life has shifted a lot from the traditional routines and styles. Still they find it important to celebrate such occasions in the way it existed years before. At least for a day, they stick to their own heritage, to pass on the message of a rich culture to the new generation. But they are for sure lacking the experience of a family gathering at home town with relatives, the feel of sharing and love that they unknowingly imbibe while going out to collect flowers, the joy of being part of preparing the traditional feast, the love and blessings of elderly persons in the family etc. In Middle East, Onam celebrations are extending till December when it is the time for Christmas. Various cultural associations organize Onam celebration incorporating all the traditional elements. In a way the kids who are born and brought up in this part of the world is blessed to have such functions in spite of many limitations.
On this Onam day IIK wish all of you a very Happy Onam.