Onam Festival

Onam
Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. Onam Festival falls during the first month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of legendary King Mahabali. Onam lasts for ten days from astham to thiruonam and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. . It reminds every Keralite on those days of plenty, equality, and honesty when King Mahabali ruled the Kingdom of Kerala.

There was a war between the Devas and the Asuras .The Asuras won the war. This had upset Aditi, mother of Devas, and so she approached Lord Mahavishnu for help. Lord Mahavishnu promised her that he would slay the Asura King, Mahabali, to regain power. So to do this he had to disguise himself as 'Vamanan', a brahim boy. He knew that Mahabali was a generous and honest man and would fulfill anyones wishes, so he asked the King for three steps of land. The wish was granted. Vamanan covered the whole land with his two steps and then he came back to the King asking him where can he place the third step, since there wasn't anymore land left. So the King, whose honour was at stake, offered his head as the third step. Vamanan pushed Mahabali deep down into the earth. Lord Mahavishnu was so pleased with the noble King that he in turn granted him a wish. The wish that the King asked for was, to visit his kingdom and people on a particular day once a year. This day is known as Onam and falls in the month of August / September

As a symbolic gesture to welcome ' King Mahabali' a flower kolam is laid in front of every house. Decorated Pookalam,l Onasadya, breathtaking Boat Race and Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam - the harvest festival in Kerala. The head of the family distributes new cloths to all the family members . .

Ona sadya is the important feast on onam day.It is served in a plantain leaf with varities of food items.Main is payasam,aviall, thuvaran, kalan , sambar. , Erissery, Olan,Prathaman, Upperi or Chips, pappadams, and Pickles ,