Onam Festival
The carnival of Onam Festiva begins with the beginning of the Malayali New Year in the month of Chingam. Onam Date keeps changing every year. It is a ten day gala. On the tenth day, all collectively prepare an Onam Pookakalam (the flower carpet), to kick start the day filled with the storehouse of joys of Onam Celebration. It is essentially an annual harvest festival and thus holds a great importance for the agrarian society; the natives of Kerela. Festival of Onam is believed to be celebrated in Sangam Age, that is around A.D 800 for the very first time. It was the age of Kalabhras. People in that age used to welcome spring by celebrating this particular festival. After the rainy month of Karkidakam, they welcome the advent of spring season, which would reap fruits of their hard work on the farm land. The entire month of Chingum was imbued with Onam Celebrations and Onam Wishes. A very interesting legendary story is also associated with the Onam festival. God Indra, the son of Kashyapa and Aditi was defeated in a war with Mahabali, the King of Asuras. Seeing the plight of her son, Aditi wailed with grief and pain. Kashyapa asked her to observe the ritual of Payovrata, which had to be started with the twelfth night of the half Karthika. She observed all the rituals pure heartedly. Appeased from her devotion, Lord Narayana appeared before Aditi and promised to help her. He ascended on earth through Aditi's womb to help Indra. Vamana Murti, the incarnation of Lord Narayana ultimately did justice to God Indra.
The aforementioned story enriches the meaning of Onam all the more. On the ninth day of the gala of Onam, the idols of sticky clay are made and are painted red. They are placed on the house after a thorough cleansing and decorations. They are called as 'Trikkakra Appan'. The next day, which is the actual day of jubilations, people wear new clothes and present their loved ones with gifts.
No comments:
Post a Comment