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Revisiting Onam legends

It's time for Mahabali to come visiting again. K. Jeshi and Anima Balakrishnan take a peek into the tales associated with this harvest festival of Kerala

Think Onam and the picture that springs to mind is that of an adorable pot-bellied Mahabali, whose overwhelming affection for his people forced his vanquisher Vamanan (an avatar of Vishnu) to grant him the wish of visiting his people every year.

Mahabali's land comes alive during the harvest festival beginning with Atham. Onam, a celebration of every aspect of a Malayalee's life, is also the time to reminisce those legends, which are the soul of the festival. Here we have tried to recapture a few, mostly grandmothers' tales, typical to various regions of Kerala.

The legend of Mahabali

Kerala was once a land of prosperity and plenty when the demon king, Mahabali, ruled it. The kingdom spanned the Earth, the Paathalam or the nether world and was threatening the skies. Indra, king of Devas, threatened by Mahabali's growing might, approached Lord Vishnu for help. Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana, a Brahmin, went to Mahabali, the generous giver, and asked for three steps of land. The King agreed. With the first step, Vamana covered the Earth and the second spanned the skies. With no land remaining for the third, Mahabali being true to his word, asked Vamana to put it on his head and the ruler was pushed down into Paathalam.

Flower power

Blooms are an integral part of Onam festivities and 10 days before Thiruvonam (which falls on September 15 this year), families use flowers, usually thumba and mukkootti to make vibrant-hued carpets (pookalam) in the front yard. Earlier, children set out with their poovatti (a basket made of palm leaves) and called out for flowers (poovili). When their basket overflowed, they did the trick of swinging the baskets, which created space for more flowers.

The mud God

Thrikakkarappan is a pyramid-like structure in clay with a slightly flat top. Every Onam, Malayalees make these in varying sizes and place them in front of the houses after cleaning the courtyard with cow-dung. According to belief, Thrikakkarappan is in reverence of Vamanan, the presiding deity at the Thrikakkara temple in Ernakulam district. The place derives its name from `kaalkarai', meaning the land where Vamanan placed his foot.

Onam is said to be the only festival where God was considered the villain. But things changed when Mahabali's subjects realised Vamanan had pushed their King down to enable him attain Vishnu sayujyam. They then began to worship the God too.

So, Thrikakkarappan is placed on a kolam made of rice flour, decked with flowers and puja performed, again making it the only festival where both the victor and the vanquished are revered.

Usher in the new

Again observed on Uthradam in parts of Kerala, people of various trades come to households to distribute new materials (onam vekkal). The carpenter will present a new sitting plank (avani palaka), the washerwoman returns washed clothes and the goldsmith comes with a new gold ring. In return, the head of the household (karanavar) presents them coconuts, rice, vegeStables and oil.

A taste of the wild

A speciality of Thrissur district, Pulikkali is usually performed the day after Thiruvonam. Men paint themselves as tigers, in yellow and black stripes, dance and carry out a procession.

Kumattikali is also performed along with Pulikkali. People cover themselves with layers of a special grass and wear masks ranging from that of an old woman to a child and perform in a procession. Time seems to have cast its spell on a lot of these traditions — Kumattikali has become a rarity, so has onathaaru. For onathaaru, people deck themselves up with palm leaves and paint their faces. The belief goes that they accompany Mahabali, singing songs, as He visits his people.

WELCOMING THE KING With Pulikkall,Kumattikall and Onasadya

Culinary delights

There is a personal touch to Onam when food items are prepared at home. Bananas are made into crisp salty chips and also sweetened with jaggery syrup (sarkaravaratty). It forms the best part of the Onasadya.

Fun festival

After the Thiruvonam meal, women and girls engage in song and dance. They swing merrily singing songs (onapattu). Men and boys play with onapandu (ball), indulge in wrestling and display of swordsmanship, which are not common any more. The festival is incomplete in Kerala without the famed boat race (vallomkali) in the backwaters.

Athaghosham

According to legend, the king of Kochi begins a procession (athachamayam) from Thripunithura to Thrikakkara temple on the day of Atham, which is essentially the curtain raiser for the Onam celebrations.

(With Inputs from Anasuya Menon)

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