Kerala celebrates harvest festival Onam

Cutting across religion, caste, creed and financial standing of the families,  people joined together to celebrate 'Thiruvonam' in the memory of the mythical ruler king Mahabali.   

Major temples in Kerala, including hill shrine of Lord Ayappa at Sabarimala, Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple, witnessed heavy rush of devotees since early morning, while the elder members of families presented 'onakkodi' (new clothes) to the family members. While women turned up in their best donning gold ornaments, men wore traditional attire.

'Onasadya,' consisting of traditional delicacies such as 'avial,' 'sambar,' 'thoran,' 'kichadi,' 'kalan,' 'pulisseri,' 'pappadam,' 'pazham' and 'payasam,' was the major attraction in all the homes. This exclusive feast is served on green plantain (banana) leaves in a traditional manner.

Onam is the most important national festival of Kerala which is celebrated in the Malayalam month of 'chingam' corresponding to the English month of August/September. The festival marks the end of continuous monsoon rainfall and beginning of the harvest season.

Keralites believe that the soul of their beloved king Mahabali, who was very much attached to his kingdom and his subjects, visit the land every year. Lord Vishnu, in his Vamana avatar, granted king Mahabali a boon to return once in a year to his beloved kingdom from the nether world into which he was pushed down. The day of his return is celebrated as the Thiruvonam festival.

There is a popular saying in Malayalam that 'kanam vittum onam unnanam' which means that Onam should be celebrated even if one's belongings have to be sold. Such was the enthusiasm all over the state which witnessed various cultural programmes, boat races, procession of caparisoned elephants, fireworks, kathakali and mohiniattam dances.

People flocked to the markets, the streets were clogged with vehicles and pavement shopkeepers, and the major cities were transformed into hubs of cultural activities.

The capital city came alive with the Tourism Department-sponsored week-long Onam celebrations. 

In his message, President Pranab Mukherjee said, "I extend Onam greetings to all fellow countrymen, especially my brothers and sisters hailing from Kerala, living both in India and abroad. Onam is a festival celebrated by people of all religion, caste and community with equal joy, underlying the secular fabric of our society. May this auspicious festival signifying the spirit of harmony, thanks giving and optimism bring happiness and prosperity to all sections of our people".

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also greeted the nation on the occasion of Onam.

"Onam wishes to you all. I pray that this special festival furthers the atmosphere of harmony and happiness across our nation," Prime Minister Modi tweeted. 

Kerala Governor P Sathasivam said, "The festive season of Onam has come again and I am immensely happy to convey my heartiest greetings to the people of Kerala and Malayalis all over the world. As we all know, there is no other festival that is so widely accepted, warmly felt and secularly celebrated as Onam, which is rightly regarded as the state festival of Kerala."

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his cabinet colleagues also offered their Onam greetings to Malayalis all over the world. 

Meanwhile, BJP president Amit Shah, who earlier stirred up controversy by extending 'Vamana Jayanthi' greetings on the eve of Onam, has conveyed Onam wishes to Keralites via social media. "My heartfelt greetings to Malayali friends on Onam. May this auspicious festival shower happiness, peace and prosperity all around."