Onam
Onam
is one of the most
popular festivals
of Kerala and like
any Indian festival
there are many legends
and stories attached
to it. Nambudiri Brahmins
of Kerala celebrate
it with a special
zeal as they attribute
its origin to their
community
|
Legend
|
Long
time ago, there lived
a kind yet mighty demon
king Mahabali, who was
the ruler of Kerala.
His people were very
happy under his rule.
Afraid of his rising
popularity, the ever-jealous
gods approached Lord
Vishnu with a request
to put an end to his
rule. Because of his
charitable nature, Vishnu
disguised himself as
a Brahmin dwarf called
Vaman and sought three
steps of land from Mahabali.
However, Vishnu then
increased his size to
cosmic proportions and
covered the entire earth
in one step and entire
heaven in the second.
When he asked Mahabali,
where to place his third
step, he humbly offered
his head to the sacred
deity. Pleased with
his virtues, Vishnu
made him the king of
hell and granted him
a boon that he could
visit his kingdom once
a year. Thus Onam is
celebrated to welcome
the legendary king returning
annually to his earthy
kingdom |
Onam
activities |
The
most important things
about Onam are the onakkodi,
the new dress worn on
this day and onam sadhya,
a feast which is quite
elaborate. This is usually
a feast served on banana
leaves and serves rice
along with at least
an array of 4 dishes.
Traditional pickles
and papadam are also
served. Dessert - is
usually 'payasam ' a
sweet dish made of milk,
sugar and other traditional
Indian savories?
. During Onam, people
create a multi-colored
floral decoration on
the ground in the front
of their home called
pookkalam. Young children
especially girls are
often entrusted with
the task of gathering
and laying out the flowers
in elaborate patterns.
Competitions are held
on onam day to create
this floral design.
It is usually 1.5m in
Diameter usually in
circular shape. A lamp
is usually placed as
part of the design.
The Vallamkali (the
snake boat race) is
another event that is
synonymous with Onam.
Well-known races include
the Aranmula Boat Race
and the Nehru Trophy
Boat Race. About 100
oarsmen row huge and
graceful snake boats
and men and women come
from far and near to
watch the snake boats
skim through the water.
This festival is also
important because of
its popularity with
all communities within
Kerala. Although the
festival of Onam originated
with, and is connected
to the Hindu religion,
the Hindus, Muslims
and Christians of Kerala
celebrate it today with
equal fervour.
|
Onapookalam
(flower carpets) |
Onapookalam
is made of various kinds
of flowers. Commonly
used flowers include
Thumba (Lucas Aspera),
Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu,
Mukkutti (little tree
plant), Chemparathy
(shoe flower), Aripoo
or Konginipoo (Lantana),
Hanuman Kireedom (Red
pagoda plant) and Chethi
(Ixora). Of all these
flowers, Thumba flowers
are given more importance
in Pookalam as they
are small in size and
glitter in the soft
rays of the sun.Thumba
Poo' is also considered
to be the favorite flower
of Lord Shiva and King
Mahabali was a devout
worshipper of Shiva.
Floral
carpet competition
Various societies
and business groups
all over the state
organize Pookalam
decoration competitions
(Creating abstract
patterns with petals,
the floral carpet
competition) on the
day of Onam. Big prizes
are also offered in
these contests as
they have turned up
to be extremely competitive
events. Recently,
people prepare intricate
designs first on computer
and then implement
it on floor. This
saves a lot of time
and energy and helps
the designers to come
up with stunning Pookalams
|
Onam
song |
'
When Maveli, our King,
ruled the land,
All the people were
as One.
And people live joyful
and merry;
They were all free from
harm.
There was neither anxiety
nor sickness,
Death of the children
were never even heard
of,
There were no lies,
There is neither theft
nor deceit,
And no one is false
in speech either.
Measures and weights
were right;
No one cheated or wronged
their neighbor.
When Maveli, our King,
ruled the land,
All the peoples formed
one casteless race.' |
Onam
Sadhya |
|
Sadhya
means "big feast"
in Malayalam a language
spoken in Kerala, India.
A Sadhya is a big feast
associated with a special
occasion. A Sadhya is
traditionally a vegetarian
meal served on a plantain
or banana leaf; people
eat sitting cross-legged
on the floor.
The
dishes are mainly cooked
(plain boiled) rice,
many curries, papadum,
plain yogurt or buttermilk,
banana or plantain chips,
and two or more sweet
dishes. The curries
are made of different
vegetables and are of
different tastes. They
can be made of yogurt,
bitter gourd, mango,
jaggery, etc. The idea
of making many dishes
in the Sadhya is that
there will be at least
two or three dishes
liked by everybody.
Coconut,
being abundant in Kerala,
is used in almost all
dishes. Coconut milk
also finds various uses
in cooking. Coconut
oil is used for frying.
There
is a specific place
for each item on the
plantain leaf. For example,
the pickles are served
on the top left corner
and banana on the bottom
left corner. Thus, the
waiters can easily identify
the requirement of the
diner by just looking
at his leaf.
There
are variations in the
menu according to the
place and the religion.
Some communities include
non-vegetarian dishes
in the sadhya. Even
though only the traditional
and seasonal vegetables
were used earlier, nowadays
carrots, pineapples,
beans, etc. are also
used. Onion and garlic
are also not used in
the traditional sadhya.
The
sadhya is usually served
as lunch. The preparations
start from the previous
night, and all the dishes
are made ready before
ten o' clock in the
morning. Nowadays, the
sadhya is served on
dining tables, as people
no longer find it convenient
to sit on the floor.
All
the dishes are served
on the plantain leaf;
it requires a special
skill to eat the food.
The whole palm and fingers
of the hand have to
be used in the form
of a ladle to lift the
food from the leaf and
eat it without spilling
it.
In
the olden days, the
people in the neighbourhood
used to spend the night
helping the cooks in
works like scraping
coconut and cutting
vegetables. These people
also volunteered to
serve the food to the
guests. This lent a
personal touch to the
occasion. But | |
