Onam is the most famous harvest festival in Kerala, India. Onam has been a state festival of Kerala since 1960. It is celebrated with cheerfulness and enthusiasm throughout the state by Malayalees irrespective of religion, caste, or creed.
Onam an Annual Hindu Holiday and Festival, History, Story, and Celebrations
A famous legend says that Keralites (Malayalees) celebrated Onam in order to welcome King Mahabali, who is said to be visiting Kerala during the Onam days.
Onam is a 10-day festival that celebrates at the beginning of the first month of the Malayalam calendar (Kollavarsham), Chingam. It is August to September, according to the Gregorian calendar. The most important of the 10 days is the first day, Atham, and the tenth day is Thiruvonam.
The legend of King Mahabali (also known as Maveli a mythical king) is the legendary King who ruled over Kerala. He was highly respected by everyone in his kingdom, was a wise and very gentleman, everyone was happy in his kingdom.
There was no discrimination on the basis of caste or class. Rich and poor were treated equally. His people were not discriminated against on the basis of caste or class, rich and poor were treated equally, there was neither crime nor corruption.
Because of his popularity, the gods became extremely anxious and jealous. They felt threatened and decided to end his kingdom. They sent Vishnu to Earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin and requested 3 feet land of Mahabali. The gracious Mahabali was ready to give him land, and this time, the Vamana began to expand, eventually increasing itself to the size of the Earth. In the first step, the Brahman covered the whole earth, and with the other step, the whole sky was covered.
He asked the king where the third foot was to be placed. King Mahabali with folded hands bowed to Vamana and asked him to put his foot on his head in order to keep his promise. The Brahmin put his foot on the king's head and trampled down Mahabali to the underworld. There, the king requested Vishnu to visit his land and people once a year, and Vishnu gave him his blessing. Accordingly, the day of King Mahabali's visit to Kerala is celebrated as Onam every year. There will also be Onasadya in association with Onam, the most special is pulikali an Indian folk dance.
