Onam essay in english: Onam is a very ancient festival which is celebrated with great joy. Along with Onam, the festival of rice harvest and the festival of rain flowers are celebrated in Kerala in the month of Chingam. Malayalis and Tamil people celebrate Onam with great pomp and show.
Onam essay in english
Introduction
India is a country of unity in diversity. Different types of castes and people live in India. The culture of this country is divine and unforgettable in itself, we never get tired of describing it. India is a country where every day, every month, some festival or the other is celebrated.
Onam is a very important festival of Kerala. Onam is celebrated in the month of Chingam. It is the first month of the Malayalam calendar. It comes in the month of August-September. In other solar calendars, it is also called Simha month. According to the Tamil calendar, it is also called Avani month. When Thiruvonam nakshatra comes in Chingam month, Onam festival is celebrated on that day.
Test of King Mahabali
Mahabali was the grandson of Prahlad. Prahlad was the son of Hiranyakashyap Asura. But still Prahlad was a devotee of Vishnu. Mahabali was also a devotee of Lord Vishnu like Prahlad. Time passed and he grew up. His empire extended up to heaven and his subjects were very happy with this.
Gods and Goddesses started praying to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu went to them in the guise of Vaman. Vishnu Ji asked for donation of three steps of fish. King Bali was thinking this to be a very simple thing but it was not a simple thing. When King Bali agreed to give three steps of land, Lord Vishnu took his huge form.
He measured the entire earth with his one step and the sky with the second step, but when there was nothing left for the third step, King Bali offered his body. Since King Bali had donated everything, he could not live on earth. Lord Vishnu asked him to go to Patal Lok.
But before leaving, Lord Vishnu asked him to ask for a boon. King Bali used to give a lot of donations to the poor. King Bali loved his subjects very much, so he asked for the boon of coming to earth once a year and seeing his subjects. Lord Vishnu accepted his boon.
It is believed that in the Shravan Nakshatra of Shravan month, King Bali himself comes to earth to see his subjects. In Malayalam, Shravan Nakshatra is called Onam, that is why this festival was also named Onam. Since then, this festival started being celebrated in the name of Onam.
Importance of Onam
It is also a harvest festival. This festival usually comes in the month of August or September. There is a tradition of presenting many types of dances on the day of Onam festival. On this day, Kerala's most popular Kathakali dance is organized on a very large scale.
On this day, women wear white sarees and dance with flower garlands on their hair. All these programs are conducted widely on this day. Everyone participates in these programs with great enthusiasm. Onam festival brings with it the message of happiness, prosperity, love, harmony and mutual love and cooperation.
Whatever be the story behind Onam festival, it is clear that it is a mirror of our culture. It is a symbol of our grand heritage. It is the freshness of our life. It may come once in a year, but on this day it leaves us with such freshness that our arteries keep flowing with newness throughout the year.
Onam in Puranas
Onam festival is celebrated in the memory of King Mahabali.
Onam festival is associated with King Mahabali. Onam festival is celebrated in honor of King Mahabali. People believe that on this day Lord Vishnu came to earth in his fifth incarnation as Vaman on the day of Chingam month and sent King Mahabali to Patal Lok. Onam festival has been going on for centuries. This festival is celebrated in memory of the generosity and prosperity of King Mahabali.
Onam in history
Some people believe that Onam festival started in the Sangam period.
References related to the festival of Onam are found in the time of Kulasekara Perumal. In those days, Onam festival lasted for the whole month. Onam is considered to be the most prominent festival in Kerala.
Onam festival is related to the harvesting of crops. This festival is also celebrated with great enthusiasm in the city. Onam festival is celebrated at the beginning of Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam calendar. Onam festival lasts for four to ten days.
Ten days of Onam
Onam festival is celebrated for ten days. The first and the tenth day are the most important. All the people of Kerala participate in this festival.
First day
On this day King Mahabali Ji prepares to go to Kerala from Patal. From this day itself the preparations for Onam festival begin. Cleaning of the house starts for the day of Onam. The markets are also decorated in a major way and there is a festive atmosphere all around.
Second day
The Second day is Chithira, on this day the carpet of flowers called Pukkalam starts being made. Pukkalam is made till the Onam festival. On the day of Onam festival, a competition of making Pukkalam is held.
Third day
The Third day is Chodhi, on this day the next layer is made in Pukkalam with 4 to 5 types of flowers.
Fourth day
The fourth day is Vishakam, from this day many types of competitions start taking place.
Fifth day
The fifth day is Anizham, on this day preparations are made for the boat race.
Sixth day
The sixth day is Thriketa, from this day holidays begin.
Seventh day
The seventh day is Moolam, on this day special rituals are performed in temples.
Eighth day
The eighth day is Pooradam, on this day the idols of Mahabali and Vaman are installed in the house.
Ninth day
The ninth day is Uthradom, on this day Mahabali enters the state of Kerala.
Tenth day
The tenth day is Thiruvonam, on this day the Onam festival is celebrated.
How is Onam celebrated
Onam is celebrated because of Mahabali. Mahabali was the great king who ruled the state of Kerala.
It is believed that Mahabali was very powerful, ideal, religious and a good man. It is believed that there was abundance of happiness and prosperity in his kingdom.
His popularity had increased so much that he had become a god, not a king, for his subjects. He started being worshipped everywhere in the kingdom. The Gods could not tolerate this and Devraj Indra hatched a conspiracy. Devraj Indra sought help from Lord Vishnu.
Lord Vishnu came in front of Mahabali in the guise of Vaman and forced him to give a promise, after which he asked for only three steps of land from him. Onam festival is celebrated in his memory. On the day of Onam festival, the whole public decorates their houses waiting for their king.
On this day, there is an atmosphere of happiness all around. On this day lamps are lit and garlands are put up. The earth is decorated in every way. The earth is decorated with rangoli and the idols of Lord Vishnu and King Bali are established on that earth.
Both are worshipped in a very grand manner. Everyone wears new clothes and presents different types of dances. Very grand types of festivals are celebrated in temples.
Many entertainment programs are organized such as boat race and elephant procession. The purpose of people behind doing these programs is that their king can see them happy and contented. On this day, everyone donates generously in the memory of Mahabali.
Conclusion
On the festival of Onam, houses and Kerala are decorated like a bride. Rangoli is made in front of every house. The prosperity of Kerala can be widely seen in the festival of Onam. On the day of Onam festival, folk dances, games, snake boat race, songs, delicious food are prepared.
King Mahabali was the ideal of the people, he was very generous. On the day of Onam, rich people donate generously to the poor. People celebrate the day of Onam with great joy, which can be known by looking at the faces of the people.
