Onam in Kerala, India

India is basically a agricultural country, and the majority of population depends on agriculture only. As a result most of the festivals are also related to the agricultural activities of the people. These festivals are celebrated with different names in different parts of the country. Onam is regarded as the harvest festival of South India, especially Kerala. It is one of the most important and most popular Hindu festivals.

The festival falls during the Malayali month of Chingam (Aug -Sep) and continues for the period of ten days. It is the time when people thank Goddess Earth and cattle for the wonderful harvest they have reaped. The festival marks the period of peace, happinesses and prosperity. Onam is dear particularly to farming community in the villages.

Onam is mainly celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, a legendary ruler of Kerala, who once ruled the land. According to the legends, Lord Vishnu once decided to test the charitable nature of demon Mahabali, so he descended on the earth in the form of the dwarf Brahmin, called Vamana. He went to King Mahabali palace and requested for the three feet of land to live there. The kind king agreed to offer him the land where ever he wishes. But as the Vamana began to grow, he covered the whole earth by one foot and the heaven by his other foot. Mahabali recognized the presence of the Lord and offered his head as the as the ground for the Vishnu's third step. This won the heart of Lord Vishnu who gave him the Kingdom of Pathala and the boon to visit to visit Kerala – his kingdom once in year to see his people at Onam.

Onam wishes and gifts are exchanged between family and friends and there are celebration within the family. Houses are cleaned and all the maintenance jobs are done before the festival. New clothes are brought for every member of household. Women decorate the central courtyard of their house with beautiful Rangolis, done with the rice flour and bordered with various colors. The grand feast- 'Sandhya' is held in which people thank each other for helping them in having good crops. People make visit to the temple to offer prayers to their Gods and perform traditional dances such as Thiruvathirakali and Thumbi Tullal on the occasion. The ten day Onam celebrations are meant for feasting, snake boat races, traditional dances and merriment to welcome their legendary King. The other highlights of the event are fireworks, raslilas, followed by the possessions of caparisoned elephants. Not to forget to savour at the feast are sumptuous traditional Kerala foods.

Onam 2009 is on September 2, Friday