Onam : The Festival of Joy
September 15, 2005 – 9:52 amOnam
Onam is one of the most important festival of Kerala. It is a bright and colorful festival that celebrates the bounties of nature and a year of good harvest. The festival stretches on for ten days - days filled with feasting, boat racing, singing and dancing. Rituals along with new clothes, traditional cuisine, dance, and music mark this harvest festival.
Legends
According to the legends, Kerala was ruled by the Demon King Mahabali. The Gods feared that he might become too powerful, so they approached Lord Vishnu, to curb Mahabali’s power. Lord Vishnu took the form of Vaamana, the dwarf and approached Mahabali. He asked the good King for three paces of land. King Mahabali granted three paces of land to Vaamana. At that, the dwarf grew in height till he almost touched the sky. With his first step, he measured the heavens, with his second, the nether world.
(more…)
