Onam is a time for sports and festivities and in Kerala where one
third of the area is low lying, covered with canals, lakes and backwaters;
the people comes out with their boats and country crafts to celebrate. It is
one of the greatest festivals of Kerala, which is celebrated unitedly
without the difference of caste and religion.
Onam is related with King Mahabali, a past ruler of Kerala, who was very
nice and trueful. During his ruling time it is said that people don't even
locked their house because , there was no thieves,no corruption,no betrayal.
All where facing a good time. At that time the Hindu lord Mahavishnu decided
to test King Mahabali. He came to earth as vamana a poor dwarf, and went
straight to King Mahabali, asking three feet of land to live as he had
nothing. The king hearing this laughed and told Vamana to take three feet of
land from where ever he wishes. Suddenly Vamana began to grow and he covered
the whole earth by one foot and covered the sky with other foot. And asked
Mahabali where is the space for the third foot. By seeing all these, the
king understood that Vamana is not an ordinary person, and Vamana has come
to test him so the king without hesitating showed his head to keep the third
foot. Vamana kept his third foot on the King's head and the King was pushed
down under the earth. The king after going under the earth, asked Vamana his
true identity, Suddenly Vamana vanished and Lord Mahavishnu stood before
Mahabali. The lord told Mahabali that he wanted to test Mahabali and he has
won in that. The lord also asked Mahabali to ask any boon for himself.
Mahabali told the lord that, he loved his people very much so he wanted
permission to visit Kerala once in a year. And the lord gave permission for
that. It is that day ie. the day Mahabali visits kerala is celebrated as
Onam.
Onam is celebrated when it's time to reap the harvest and is a celebration
of ten days. People put flower mats in front of their houses, to welcome the
King. Keralites all over the world will be celebrating this ten days will
pomp and gaiety. They wear new dresses and visit almost all temples which
they can.
