Onam is the celebration of returning from King Mahabalibeloved ruler who was banished to the underworld by Lord Vishnu but granted his wish to return to his nation once a year, is now celebrated as festival from Onam.
Onam 2024 date and time
In 2024, Onam is set to be celebrated from September 6, Friday to September 15, Sunday.
According to Drik Panchang, “Thiruvonam on Sunday, September 15, 2024
Thiruvonam Nakshathram Begins – 20:32 on 14 Sep 2024
Thiruvonam Nakshathram End – 6:49 PM on 15 Sep 2024”.
Festival history
The origin of Onam is said to be related to the story of King Mahabali and Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin.
According to legend, Mahabali was a wise and just ruler who brought peace and prosperity to his kingdom and was loved by his people. He ruled over parts of Kerala and southern regions and the people were happy and satisfied under his rule. Since he is loved by all, and his popularity is increasing, the Gods and Devtas are said to be afraid of his charm and power over their people.
So, fearing that Mahabali might become more powerful than the Gods, Indra asked Lord Vishnu to intervene. Lord Vishnu then took the form of Vamana, a dwarf brahmin, and went to Mahabali, asking for 3 steps of land. Mahabali, being a generous king, did not deny the Brahmin’s wish, and agreed to Vamana’s request.
But, surprisingly, Lord Vishnu covered the whole space of the Earth in the first step, the sky in the second, and there was no place for the third. Not wanting to disturb the brahmins, Mahabali offered his head as Vamana’s third step, a symbol of respect for the deity. Lord Vishnu was also impressed by Mahabali’s devotion and gave him a boon. He said that Mahabali would be allowed to visit his people once a year, and the annual festival was now celebrated as Onam.
Note Onam
Today, Onam is much more than a celebration, it is a full festival that fills the air with joy and love. While people wait all year for the arrival of King Mahabali, when Onam finally arrives, there is joy all around to welcome their beloved King.
Onam is also a harvest festival and rice harvest time. And a good harvest is a symbol of prosperity and abundance in the family.
Another fact about Onam is that it is not celebrated by any particular community. It is said that Onam brings people together, from different communities and religions, especially in Kerala, as King Mahabali does not rule a certain class or tribe, but is considered by each individual.
A ten-day celebration
Onam is celebrated for ten days, each day having its own rituals. The first day, Atham, marks the beginning of festivities and houses and temples are colored and covered with carpets of flowers.
Also, for 10 days, people can enjoy ‘Onam Sadya’ which is actually a big feast with a variety of vegetarian food. Served on banana leaves, there is rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, pickles, chutney, and payasam.
Boat race
Another fun part of Onam is Vallam Kali, or the Snake boat race. The race takes place in the backwaters of Kerala and involves months of training, with official teams competing against each other. There is a long and narrow boat with about 20-30 people, trying to win and reach the finish line as soon as possible.
The beauty of flowers
The best part about Onam is also the beauty of flowers and floral decorations covering temples and houses. Be it the beautiful Rangolis made of petals, from roses to marigolds, to the carefully woven leaves to decorate the temple entrances, everything is delightful.
Pulikali
Another important part of Onam is Pulikali, or the Tiger dance, which takes place on the 4th day of the 10-day celebration. People paint their bodies like Tiger skins or wear Tiger costumes while dancing and dancing with drums and other musical instruments.
