Kerala   

Onam is in the Air

The much anticipated and cherished harvest festival of Kerala is around the corner. With a little over a fortnight away, the spirit of Onam seems to have set in, with people making preparations like purchase of clothes, planning for pleasure trips with friends and family and most of all discussing Onam.

It is not uncommon these days to hear discussions that revolve on Onam in families and among friends. Nostalgia is a recurrent feeling among the middle aged and the elderly when they describe the fun and frolic they had during Onam during their youth. Though school going children are now busy engrossed in their first terminal examinations, this does not dampen their spirit though. Young children can be heard saying as to how they want the exams to get over fast so that they can enjoy the Onam merrily.

The legend associated with Onam is something that is heard told and re-told during the festive season. The legend goes thus. Long ago, Kerala was ruled by a demon king named Mahabali. Prosperity prevailed everywhere in his kingdom so much so that his reign is referred to as the golden era. The growing popularity of the King made the Gods feel challenged. To prevent him from being over-powerful, Aditi, the mother of Gods pleaded with Lord Vishnu to curtail Mahabali. The Lord took the incarnation of Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin. The magnanimous and charitable King paid no special heed to the request for three paces of land by Vamana. However, Vamana, being Lord Vishnu, took cosmic proportions and with his two steps covered the entire earth and skies. Realising that the dwarf was none other than the Lord himself, Mahabali bowed before Him, offering his head for the last step. This third step pushed Mahabali into `pathalam' (netherworld). However the demon king, in return for his good deeds, earned a boon, by which he could visit his subjects once annually. The visit of the King to the land he once ruled is celebrated as Onam with great fervour in the State. Adorning the front yard of homes with brilliant floral designs called `Athapoo' is a way of welcoming the King. This starts from the day of `Atham'. In the past years, one could see brilliant floral designs adorning street corners and even office corridors. Women and children enthusiastically partake in making the floral designs.

Singing and dancing is also an integral of Onam festivities. Merrymaking in Onam is never complete without `Onapattu' or Onam songs. The lyrics of these Onam songs describe the glory of Onam and `Onathappan' (Mahabali). Generations of Malayalees have been fed on the popular Onam song `Maveli Nadu Vanidum Kalam Manusharellarum Onnupole', which hails the high points of the Mahabali reign. Women and children take a go at the swing made out of tying ropes in branches of trees while singing Onam songs. The `Thiruvathirakali' is a dance form in which women participate. The `Pulikali' and `Kummattikali' are folk dances that are performed as part of Onam festivities.

REMA SUNDAR

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