Celebrating Onam 2024: know Interesting story, history, and significance of the festival
Onam 2024 transcends religious and cultural barriers, bringing together people from all communities.
Onam 2024: Interesting story, history, and significance of the festival
Onam, the seasonal harvest festival of Kerala, falls in the month of Onam, in the year 2024, which will be celebrated from 6-15 September. This festival is a mingling of mythology, culture and art too and that is why it is a unique festival of India and it is celebrated for ten days. Onam is a period of opulent meals, poykalam floral designs, Onam kaliyattam, and boat races and sucks everyone in’s common man to the king.
The Story Behind Onam
Onam is linked with the legend of Mahabali who was one popular and beloved king who ruled in Kerala. The king Mahabali ruled the world with lot of riches, nonviolence, and justice to everyone. But, his popularity and power troubled the gods as they thought he might be more powerful than them. Lord Vishnu incarnated Himself as Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin and went to Mahabali and asked for three steps of lands. The king who was liberal in his nature, did not object. Vamana then grew up to a huge man again and took two steps which occupied the earth and the heavens and there was no space left for the third. As promised Mahabali bowed his head for Vamana to place in his third step which led to the latter to shapeshift into a size that let the god travel to the underworld. Vishnu being pleased with the virtues of Mahabali permitted him to come once in a year to visit his subjects and this annual festival is known as Onam.
History and Cultural Significance
The festival of Onam has been celebrated for as long as at least three centuries as a harvest festival that came at the end of the monsoon season. It also displays the cultural bonanza of Kerala further categorized into Kalrukali dance, Pulikali, Vallam kali and many other enchanting programs. The most colorful part of the celebration is the Onasadya which is considered a feast of over 25 dishes served on well prepared banana leaves.
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Onam’s Modern Significance
As such, Onam in the contemporary world is a festival that cuts across all the religions and culture. It stands for its harmony, wealth and culture of sharing and hence it is a secular festival in Kerala.
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