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| Friday, 27 August 2004 |
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Onam - Kerala festival of friendship and fraternity by Samasuri Sriyananda Kumarasinghe, President, Malayala Kalalayam Onam, the national festival of Kerala and of people of Kerala origin all over the world, will be celebrated this year on August 28. An ancient rite, it is more or less a harvest festival celebrated immediately after the harvest, when everything is in plenty. People of all religions, castes and creeds celebrate Onam. The legend of Onam lies in the Bhagwatha (Vishnupuranam). It was on the day of Shravan (Thiruvonam). Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana, the tiny one (His fifth incarnation) appeared to rescue the three worlds from the supremacy of the Asura King Mahabali. He had ruled his kingdom well, and there was equality among men no natural or other calamities, no crime etc. But by the Yogas (sacrifices) King Mahabali amassed affluence and power and challenges the might of devas and the Supreme Lord. Vamana requested three feet of land from Mahabali, as a gift. Mahabali agreed against the advice of his guru, the sage Shukra. Vamana grew to cosmic size and spanned all the spheres.i.e, the earth and the sky in two steps. For the third step Mahabali offered his head. The lord, pleased with his surrender, sent him to Pathala. Before Mahabali left, he requested a boon from the lord. He wished to visit his subjects once a year. That day happens to be Thiruvonam. Thus the people of Kerala joined hands with nature to prepare to receive the legendary King Mahabali, with homes made clean and bright. Teen aged girls and boys come out at dawn to collect flowers. They make attractive floral design in the houses and courtyards. Newly made clay idols representing Mahabali are kept in the yard for worship. After the ceremonial bath, women decorate themselves with sandal paste, Kumkum, on their foreheads, flowers in their hair and new dresses and gold ornaments. Children and young ones swing high on the "oonchal" (Onchillawa). The air is filled with the music of wandering minstrels from performing communities. Caparisoned elephants, a common feature in festivals in Kerala, dominate the processions. For about ten days sumptuous feasts are laid out in which all communities dine together. Family reunions also take place at this time. Kerala sports and arts best seen during Onam festival days, attract a large number of tourists. Sports include martial arts such as Kalari Payatt (fencing with sticks and swords). Prominent among artistic expressions are portrayals of dances reflecting the occupations of the people. The 'kerala kaikottukali' (performed by women) is a favourite item. Ottamthullal is a solo stage dance performed by a male dancer who sings and miming and costume bring it close to the famous 'Keral Kathakali'. Boat races (Vallamkali) with beautifully decorated boats are an important event during Onam, and attract tourists from all over the world. In Sri Lanka, Malayala Kalalayam has celebrated this Onam festival as a national unity programme with the assistance of Sinhala, Tamil, Muslim and Christians for the last 24 years. |
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