All Onam Pooja orders will be accepted till 05.00 PM (IST) on 15-Sep-2013.
Kerala's most colourful festival, Onam celebrates the mythical
King Mahabali and his golden rule.It welcomes the spirit
of King Mahabali, and assures him that his people are happy
and wish him well. The story says that gods feared the wise
and good rule of Mahabali, the asura (demon) king, thinking
that he might become too powerful. They sought the help
of Vishnu or the preserver in the Hindu trinity, to curb
Mahabali's power. Vishnu took the form of a dwarf called
Vamana and approached Mahabali. Pleased with the dwarf brahmin's
wisdom, Mahabali granted him a wish. The Vamana asked for
three paces of land and the king agreed to it. Vishnu as
the dwarf increased his size and with the first step covered
the sky, blotting out the stars, and with the second, straddled
the nether world. Realising that Vamana's third step will
destroy the earth, Mahabali offered his head as the last
step. He was pushed to the nether world but as Mahabali
was so attached to his kingdom and the loved by his subjects,
he was allowed by the gods to return once a year. Onam (Thiruonam)
is celebrated on the day when King Mahabali comes from exile
to visit his people.
Onam (Thiruonam) is celebrated as the day of Mahabali return from exile. The
festivities begin ten days in advance and floral decorations (Pookkalam) adorn
every home. Caparisoned elephants in a spectacular procession, fireworks and
the Kathakali dances, are an integral part of the festivities. The Vallamkali
(boat race) is one of the main attractions of Onam, and is best seen at Aranmulai
and Kottayam. About a hundred oarsmen row huge and graceful odee (boats) with
scarlet silk umbrellas. Their number denotes the affluence of the family owning
the boat. Gold coins and tassels hang from the umbrellas. Oars dip and flash
to the rhythm of drums and cymbals in each boat. In the evening girls perform
the Kaikottikkali
