|
Onam
is one of the most important festival of Kerala. It is a bright and
colourful festival that celebrates the bounties of nature and a year of good harvest.
The festival stretches on for ten days - days filled with feasting, boat
racing, singing and dancing.
According
to the legends, Kerala was ruled by the Demon King Mahabali. Mahabali
was such a great ruler that his rule was known as the "golden
rule of Mahabali". His fame spread far and wide that the Gods
feared that he might become too powerful. So they approached Lord
Vishnu, to curb Mahabali's power. Lord
Vishnu took the form of Vaamana, the dwarf and approached Mahabali. He
asked the good King for three paces of land. King Mahabali was so kind
that he looked at the small person and advised him to ask something
bigger. But the guru of the demons, Guru Sukracharya, realised this
was no ordinary brahmin and told the king to refuse any boons. But
King Mahabali refused and granted three paces of land to Vaamana. At
that, the dwarf grew in height till he almost touched the sky. With
his first step, he measured the heavens, with his second, the nether
world. For his third pace, there was no place and Kign Mahabali
offered his head. So he did and Mahabali was pushed into the nether
world. But Lord Vishnu was so pleased with this great King that he
showed him his viswarupa and gave him a boon. Then the good king
Mahabali requested that he should visit his people once a year and see
his beloved subjects. Lord
Vishnu granted him his boon and the day King Mahabali visits the earth
is only celebrated as Onam.
Lavanya
|
