Onam is an annual harvest festival celebrated in the state of Kerala. A major annual event for Kerala peoples, it is the one of the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events. Drawing from Hindu mythology, Onam commemorates King Mahabali.
The Onam festival has ancient origins and it became intricately link with Hindu legends at some later date. The earliest known reference is found in Maturaikkkanci - a sanam poem, which mentions Onam being celebrated in Madurai temples. Since then, multiple temple inscriptions record celebrations of onam. The date is based on the Panchangam which falls on the 22nd nakshatra Thiruvonam in the month Chingam of Malayalam calendar, which in Gregorian calendar falls between August - September.
What is significance of Onam?
Onam signifies the annual homecoming of the King Mahabali from Patala Loka, where he was sent by Lord Vishnu's Vamana avatar. Popular belief is that King Mahabali, the most benevolent Raja of Kerala visits his kingdom to see his subjects happy and prosperous on the occasion of the auspicious harvest festival.
Which God worshipped during Onam?
During the Onam, Keralite Hindus install an image of Thrikkakara Appan or Onatthappan (Vishnu in the form of Vamana) in their home just as Hindus install images or murtis of Lord Ganesha on the Ganesha Chaturthi festival elsewhere. Many lamps are lit in Hindu temples of Kerala during this celebration.
Is Onam and pongal are same?
Onam is is a Hindu festival, celebrated with a great enthusiasm throughout Kerala state for a period of 10 days.It is dedictaed to Lord Vishnu. It is celebrated in the month of August or September.
Pongal is a festival of Tamil Nadu celebrated in winter solstice, when, according to the traditional Hindu system, the Sun which has reached the Southern-most point.It is dedicated to Lord Sun and is celebrated in the month of December or January.Both are harvest festival.
Mythical Story behind Onam:
Within the textual tradition (Mahabharata), Mahabali is noted to be an Asura, who found liberation at the feet of Vishnu through charity and religious rectitude. However, there are other interpretations of the same myth-cycle. One version, situated within the Bali tradition, celebrates him as a lower-caste Dravidian who challenged Brahminic hegemony. In the state-sanctioned celebrations, Mahabali is portrayed as a cultural hero: a just and benevolent ruler, he chose to even give up his rule/life for protecting his subjects, and was allowed by Vamana to return back once a year.
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