he Rich Paddy Fields, The lush greenary all around after the monsoon. The crystal clear rivers flowing. The pearl like dew drops/raindrops on the leaves.... The fragrance of Fresh Flowers....... Oooooo its
Onam.... The Harvest Festival and Welcoming King Mahabali.
Are you ready to celebrate 10 days of Onam with me? Join in to witness the
Vallam Kali, Puli Kali, Pookalam and folk dances and many more.
The Story goes.
Mahabali was the great grandson of Asura king Hiranyakashapu. Hiranyakashapu's son Prahlad was a devotee of Vishnu who rebelled against his father who prosecuted people worshipping Lord Vishnu. The asura king tries to kill his own son, when Vishnu takes the avtaar of Narasimha and kills Hiranyakashyapu.
Mahabali the grandson of Prahlad came to power defeating the Devas and taking over all the three worlds. The devas approached Vishnu for help in their battle with mahabali. Vishnu refused to fight as Mahabali was a good ruler and his devotee too. He waited to the right moment and when mahabali declared performing a Yagna for his victory during which he would grant any request that comes to him.
Vishnu takes the Vamana Avtaar..a dwarf boy and comes to yagna. He demands just 3 paces of land when mahabali offered him gold ,elephants, villages....
Mahabali was surprised and he gave in and said OK. Lo behold Vamana started growing in height that his head touched the skies. He lifted a leg which covered the earth and next the skies. There was no place to put 3rd pace there was nothing left. Mahabali realized who it was bowed down and offered his head for 3rd Pace.
Lord Vishnu granted him Mahabali a boon that he can visit ever year the lands he ruled. Onam is a reminder of the virtuous rule of Mahabali and his humility in keeping up to his word.
It is a cultural festival of Kerala celebrated by all according to their rituals. Orthodox Christians light the nilavilaku and Pushparati and have on am meal with their Hindu brothers and Sisters sharing a tradition. Muslims also join in.
The first day.. Atham Day
This day marks the beginning of the 10 day festival at Thrikkara Vamanamoorthy Temple in Cochin. This temple is considered the focal center of Onam and abode of Mahabali. The festival flag (Kodiyettam) is raised this day.
A grand procession begins the parade Attachamayam which stars the celebrations. It is a grand procession from Thripunathura to Thrikkara temple with elephants marching along to the tunes of the drum beats and other music. There also follows fork art forms, floats and colorfully dressed people with masks on.
In Kerala's history, the Kochi king used to head a grand military procession in full ceremonial robes from his palace to the Thrikkakara temple, meeting and greeting his people.
The parade floats traditionally feature scenes from epics such as the Mahabharata and the Ramayana. Additionally, some floats include themes from the Bible as well as current themes thereby highlighting unity and harmony.
The traditional ritual of laying pookkalam (floral carpet) starts on Atham day. The pookkalam on this day is called Athapoo.
The festivities begin....
Onam Day 2.. Chitra.
On this day people start cleaning their houses and indulge in purchase of new clothes..getting ready to welcome Mahabali. The circle of flowers is added to the pookalam.
There is another story than Mahabali's linked to Onam.
Lord Vishnu got dejected with the kings and warrior caste constantly at war and were really arrogant.
He took the Avatar of Parashurama born to Sage Jamadagani and Renuka to end this. There was a king Kartavirya who oppressed the people, sages and gods too.
One day the king came to the hermit of Parashurama while he was away. The king took away their cow Surabhi ( and when Parashurama returned he got furious hearing this and called the king for a war for the injustice done by kartavirya.
Parashurama killed the king and all his warriors and at the end flung his Axe into the sea and where ever if fell the sea retreated cresting a land Kerala and other costal western parts of Indian subcontinent.
Vishnu took the avatar of Parashurama, or "Rama with an axe" and also known as Rama Jamadagyna, in the era of King Kaartavirya. This king persecuted and oppressed the people, the sages and the gods.[25] One day, the king came to the hermitage of Parashurama and his mother Renuka, where while Parashurama was away, the king without permission took away the calf of their cow. When Parashurama returned, he felt the injustice of the king, called him to war, and killed the king and all his oppressive warriors. At the end, he threw the axe, and wherever it fell, the sea retreated, creating the land of Kerala and other coastal western parts of Indian subcontinent.
The Onam festival, according to this legend, celebrates Parashurama's creation of Kerala by marking those days as the new year
Onam Day 3 - Chodi.
This day marks shopping for new clothes for family and also gifts for near and dear ones. The diameter of the Pookalam increases as the days progress.
In the middle of all the festive shopping rush, am gonna take time to visit Chitur Bhagavathy Kavu which is tucked in a lush green village 6km away from Palakkad.
The story goes. Daruka was a wicked Demon king who conquered the three worlds because of the boon he obtained from Brahma. The devas suffered a lot and turned to Lord Shiva. Out of his fire of anger was born Maha Kali who was entrusted the task of dealing with Daruka.
Daruki the demon king's wife was a devotee of Goddess Parvati. The demons Shumbh and Nishumbha insist daruka to call for Devi Kali not knowing that she was parvathi herself. Daruki invoked parvathi and the Devi was angry with demon king's behavior towards woman and killed him instantly.
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The Devi here is in the fierce form of Bhadrakali.
Konganpada festival is held every year in Feb-March to commemorate the victory of Nairs of Chittur over the Konganadu led by the Chola King Rajadhi Raja.
Konganpada takes you on a journey back to the age of kings, kingdoms and battles. The men engaging in mock fights wearing buffalo headgears as a tribute to the buffaloes that died in the battle. The ritual ‘Arippathattu’ signifies the start of the war. A procession led by the Velichappadu, oracle of the temple, all decked up in ceremonial attire, a sword and ornaments visual treat on the mystic culture of God's own Country. 101 rounds of Kathinavedi (iron pipe crackers) follows.
Onam Day 4. Vishakam.
It is considered to be one of the most auspicious day of the Onam. Preparation of Onam sadhya begins with no of dishes upto 26 delicacies.
In olden days, the markets open their harvest sale on this day, making one of the busiest days in the markets for public.
Pulikkali ("Puli" = Leopard/Tiger & "Kali" = Play in Malayalam language) is a recreational folk art from the state of Kerala which is performed on this day of Onam celebrations. Performers painted like tigers and hunters in bright yellow, red, and black dance to the beats of instruments like Udukku and Thakil.
The women also perform Kaikottikali another traditional folk art where they are dressed in the traditional attire and dance as one performer sings the first line of the song while the rest repeat it in chorus with clapping their hands in unison. They move in circular motion, clockwise and at times anticlockwise, with every step all performers bend sideways, with theirs arms coming together in graceful gestures, upwards and downwards and to either side, in order to clap.
The also decorate the swing with flowers to welcome mahabali who is enroute to visit ha people.
Onam Day 5.. Anizham/Anusham
As we are midway into welcoming the legend king Mahabali, lets move to the picturesque Aranmulla in Pathanamthitta Dist where the Vallamkali with long Snake boat called Chundan Vallams is rowed by hundred of oarsmen in their traditional attire.
All boats are rowed to the rhythm of vanchipattu [boat songs).
More flowers are added to and the size of the pookalam increases...... Its just happiness and excitement in the atmosphere all around.
Let's pray to Aranmulla Parthasarathy for Samastha Loka Sukhino Bhavantu.
Onam Day 6.. Thriketta.
Now we are all under lockdown, but during those beautiful normal days, schools and some offices close and all are with their families for celebrations and countdown for the arrivsl of Mahabali begins.
A few catch up with their relatives, shopping for themselves and Gifts. More cultural activities begin like music, Kathakali etc.
The beautiful pookalam increases in size.
Today let's visit a small yet powerful temple in the heart of Trivandrum, Palgulankara Devi which is a beautiful kavu. 1km off from Pettah junction.
The abode of Sree Palkulangara Devi is one of the most ancient temples in Kerala, which preserves the beauty and atmosphere gifted by nature.
Palkulangara means the banks of the pond of milk(Pal - Milk, Kulam -Pond and Kara - Bank)
It is believed that the main diety was installed by Arjuna. After installing the deity, Arjuna sent an arrow to the ground and it made way to a pond of milk, and the milk from the pond was used for Abhisheka.
Amme Narayani.
Onam Day 7. Moolam.
With festivities under way on this day for the upcoming grand celebration of the coming home of King Mahabali... am gonna take a short tour of a village Peruvemba in Palakkad. Rich in paddy fields, this village is the abode of Ootukulangara Bhagavathy.
Story goes, once a farmer was ploughing his field when his plough hit a metal and he saw blood flowing. He was shocked, ran from there and narrated the incident to his landlord. The landlord too came and saw the place . He called for an astrologer who convluded that it was a Swayambhu Idol of Bhagavathy. The landlord constructed a temple right there on his paddy field. The Sreekovil is roofless and the idol is below an Ash oka tree which dome older residents believe is exactly the same size as they saw it in their childhood.
Amme Narayani
Onam Day 8. Pooradam.
On this 8the day of the 10 day long Carnival, people create clay idols in shape of small pyramids called Poorada Uttugal and decorate it with flowers.
It is sign of onnathappan's coming home.
Pookalam grandeur increases.
Today am go on a visit Krishna Temple in Evoor near Haripad, Allapuzha. This temple is believed to have originated in the Khandava Forest Dahanam 5 Millennium ago.
The idol is with four arms with Panchajanya Shankha, Sudarshana Chakra and butter in three hands and the fourth arm held on hip.
The story goes. Agni Devan suffered a severe stomach ailment due to devouring butter for twelve years from swetaki's
yagna.
He approached Brahma and was advised to consume Khandava Forest which was the abode of the Naga leader Takshaka. Whenever Agni tried to consume, Indira the friend of Naga would douse it with thundershowers.
Agni now turned to Krishna and Arjuna for help. Agni armed Arjuna with mighty bow Gan diva which rivaled Pinaka the bow of lord Shiva. When Krishna and Arjuna arrived at Khandava, sage Kanva requested them to spare his Arca idol(4 armed lord Vishnu)
Arjuna constructed a Sarakoodam from under which Agni consumed the Forest and was cured of his ailment. Agni expressed his will to install a Arca idol in a new temple. Krishna granted his wish and as instructed by him Arjuna fired an arrow to choose the area to construct the temple.
Ethyoor(where arrow was shot) became Evoor.
Lord Shiva and Parvathy are the sub dirties here.
Krishnam Vande Jagathgurum.
Onam Day 9. Utharadam
The Onam Eve and people are all set to treat the Spirit of their king Mahabali who will be touring his kingdom the four days and blessing his subjects.
The Farmers bring their produce and gift it to their landlords. The landlords in turn give them return gifts and also invite them for a grand Onam Sadhya the next day.
Pookalam gets bigger....
Today in the midst of the hush bash for grand day am gonna take a quick tour of puthiyavila in the lake town Kayamkulam which is the abode of Vadakkan Koikkal Temple.
The main attraction of this temple is the main temple is of two stories. Devi
Parvathy the main deity is placed on the ground floor and Lord Shiva on the 1st Floor. The other deities are Bhadrakali and Dharma Sashtha. Nagadeva and Brahma rakshas are also worshipped here.
All the celebrations last 9 days lead to the Grand Day today. King Mahabali visits to every household to bless this people has begun. The poor and the needy are taken care of and friends and family gather for Onam Sadhya a Grandeur feast served on Banana leaf - chips, Kichady, Pachadi, erisheri, Pulisheri, Aviyal, puliinji, Kalan, Sambar, Rasam, Thoran, Mezhukuperaty, Adai Pradaman, Chakkai Pradaman, Idichu Puzhinju Payasam, Parupu Pradaman..... Yummmmz
Let's take a quick short tour to Chengannur
Mahadeva temple which is one of the major temples in Kerala. It is also counted as major Bhagavathy temple who is considered the protector of masses.
It is believed that Parvathi, the consort of Shiva, came here after marrying him in the Himalayas.
Sage Agasthya, who could not witness the sacred marriage of Shiva and Parvathi was visited by the pair after the marriage...Since she was in her Menstrual Period waited for 28 days to give darshan to the sage.
Thiruppooth Aratt is a festival celebrated in the temple at least thrice a year when the festival images of Mahadeva and Bhagavathy is taken in a procession on decorated elephants to the Pamba River.
Thanks to my friend Anu Kesavan for this beautiful write up and also the pictures of incredible God's Own Country Kerala and its amazing festival Onam.
Happy Onam to you all.
