Onam 2022: Date, history, significance, and other details about the festival

Onam 2022: The Onam Festival, which celebrates the legendary King Mahabali's return home, is one of the most important festivals in Kerala. The festival is an amalgamation of celebrations that spans 10 days and this year, it will be celebrated from August 30 to September 8. Onam is marked by the harvest season of the standing crops.

Onam 2022: Significance

The Onam festival commemorates Asura King Mahabali's return home from Patal Lok (the underworld). Women of Kerela make vibrant flower carpets in front of their homes (Pookkalam or rangoli) for the Onam festival. Onakkodi, new clothing, is also worn by people, and one can witness people participating in a variety of ceremonies including famous boat races. Atham day marks the start of Onam, and the festival goes on for ten days till Thiruvonam day.

Onam 2022: History

According to Hindu mythology, King Mahabali was the greatest king of Kerala. According to ancient texts, it was thought that the people of Kerala had the best time, were prosperous, and were dominated everywhere throughout his reign. Mahabali is believed to have defeated even the Gods and taken charge of the three worlds. Unhappy Gods urged Lord Vishnu to help them in their fight against the demon king. Mahabali was a devotee of Lord Vishnu, who found it tough to take sides.

However, Lord Vishnu once visited King Mahabali in the form of Vamana. Lord Vishnu requested ownership rights over a plot of land that was "three paces" in size from the King. When the king granted this wish, the Vamana avatar swelled in size and quickly covered the entire area the king ruled in just 2 steps. Mahabali provided his own head as payment for the third and last step in order to uphold his pledge and honour. Lord Vishnu was moved by the act and granted Mahabali the blessing that he would come to this realm once a year.

 

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Onam 2022: Rituals

DAY 1- Athan (the day when King Mahabali prepares to go from Heaven to his kingdom on Earth)

DAY 2- Chithira (the day when a carpet of flowers is made called Onam Pookalam)

DAY 3- The Chodhi Pookkalam (the day when another layer is added to the carpet of flowers using four to five types of flowers)

DAY 4- Visakam (The fourth day of the celebration) On this day, various tournaments start)

DAY 5- Anizham (the fifth day of the festival when preparations for the boat race takes place)

DAY 6- Thriketa (the festival holidays begin from this day)

DAY 7- Moolam (special pujas are performed in temples)

DAY 8- Pooradam (On this day, Vamana and King Mahabali's idols are erected in homes)

DAY 9- Uthradom (On this day, Mahabali enters Kerala)

DAY 10- Thiruvonam (This is the most important day when King Mahabali is welcomed by the people of Kerala with full delight and reverence)

The festival is celebrated with great pomp by Keralites across the nation and the world. 

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