Onam is festival that is celebrated by all the Malayalees. It is commemorated every year because of a legend. King Mahabali ruled Kerala and he was a just ruler. All the people were treated equally. There was liberty, equality and fraternity in the land. There was happiness everywhere. People here were happier than the inhabitants of heaven. So they became jealous. So one god, disguised as an ascetic, Vamana, came to Mahabali and requested him to give him three feet of land to sit and do his ‘tapassu’. The generous Mahabali gladly granted his wish. Then suddenly Vamana began to grow in size and he was as tall as the sky. With one foot he measured the entire land of Mahabali, with the second foot he measured the skies above the land.
Then he asked Mahabali where he would have his third foot of land. Mahabali bent his head and told him he can have it there. Vamana put his foot on Mahabali’s head and Mahabali was pushed deep down into the underworld. As he was going down, he asked Vamana to give him a boon: He should be allowed to come back and visit his beloved people once a year. His request was granted. The Kerala people believe that Mahabali comes to earth to see them every year on Thiruvonam day.
To receive their beloved king, the people make pookkalams in their yards. They make sumptuous meals. They wear new clothes and adorn themselves as best as they can. They also have some folk dances and other entertaining things to welcome their great king. It is a festive season in Kerala and everybody looks happy on that day. The occasion is commercially exploited by businessmen to sell all kinds of things. It is the holiday season for Keralites and people organise tours and various other activities.
