UNI

Thiruvananthapuram, Sept 5: Keralities world over on Tuesday celebrated 'Onam,' the harvest festival of Kerala, with traditional gaiety marked by sumptuous feasts and cultural and folk art performances.

Cutting across class, caste and creed barriers, people joined together to celebrate 'Thiruvonam' in the memory of the mythical ruler king Mahabali. Major temples in the state witnessed heavy rush of devotees since early morning, while the elder members of families presented 'onakkodi' (new clothes) to the family members.

'Onasadya' (Onam Feast), consisting of traditional delicacies such as 'avial,' 'sambar,' 'thoran,' 'kichadi,' 'kalan,' 'pulisseri,' 'pappadam,' 'pazham' and 'payasam,' are the major attraction in all the homes. This exclusive feast is served on green plantain (banana) leaves in a traditional manner.

After the sumptuous 'Onasadya', people engage in different recreational activities. Of these the most important is the Kaikottikkali, also known as the Tiruvatirakkali performed by the women folk. The typical games of men are ''Talapandu'', ''Kayyankali'' and ''Onathallu''. Kummatti and Pulikkali are two important folk art forms enacted during this time.

Country boat races would be held as part of the celebrations and one of the major attractions is the swing. Young men and women, beautifully dressed in colorful costumes sing ''Onappaattu'' (Onam songs) and rock one another on swings slung from high branches.

Onam is the national festival of Kerala which is celebrated in the Malayalam month of 'chingam' corresponding to the English month of August/September. The festival marks the end of continuous monsoon rain fall and beginning of the harvest season. Onam celebrations start on the asterism Attam, ten days ahead of Onam day. In front of every house, 'Athapookalam' (floral decorations with flowers) are seen which is meant for welcoming the Demon King Mahabali.

The festival is connected with the legend of King Mahabali under whose rule prosperity and equality prevailed. Keralities believe that the soul of their beloved king Mahabali, who was very much attached to his kingdom and his subjects, use to visit the land every year. Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, granted king Mahabali a boon to return once in a year to his beloved kingdom from the nether world into which he was pushed down. The day of his return is celebrated as the Thiruvonam festival.

There is a popular saying in Malayalam that 'kanam vittum onam unnanam' which means that Onam should be celebrated even if one's belongings have to be sold. Such is the enthusiasm all over the state which witnessed various cultural programmes, boat races, procession of caparisoned elephants, fireworks, kathakali and mohiniattam dances.

The Kerala Government had also launched Onam week celebrations, a cultural fest to provide a cultural ambiance to the festivities.