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Onam

Onam
Flower Rangoli (pookalam) is an Onam tradition
Official nameOnam, Thiruvonam[3]
Observed byMalayalis
TypeHindu religious festival, Harvest festival[1][2]
ObservancesSadya, Thiruvathira Kali, Puli Kali, Pookalam, Ona-thallu, Thrikkakarayappan, Onathappan, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Athachamayam, and Vallamkali.
BeginsChingam (siṃha) masam, Atham (hastā) nakshatram
EndsChingam (siṃha) masam, Thiruvonam (śrāvaṇa) nakshatram
Datemulti-day
2023 date28 August – 31 August
FrequencyAnnual
Related toBalipratipada

Onam (IPA: [oːɳɐm]) is an annual harvest and cultural festival related to Hinduism that is celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala.[4][5] A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state[4][6] and includes a spectrum of cultural events.[7][8][4][9]

Onam commemorates Vamana (the fifth avatar of Hindu deity Vishnu) and the generous but egotistical daitya king Mahabali.[10][11] According to the Hindu legends, after Indra (the king of the devas) is defeated by Mahabali (the king of the asuras), the devas ultimately seek refuge in Vishnu, who agrees to restore Indra to power. To do so, Vishnu incarnates as a dwarf priest called Vamana. The king Mahabali (himself a devotee of Vishnu) conducts ritual prayers, one of which is attended by Vamana, who requests only three feet (steps) of land to build a fire-altar. Mahabali agrees, despite being told about Vamana's divine nature by the sage Shukra. Vamana grows in size, and in three strides, encompasses all of the universe and beyond. The three worlds are restored to Indra, and Mahabali and the asuras are banished to the netherworld (Patala).[12][13] However, witnessing Mahabali's love for his subjects, Vamana grants the king's sole wish to visit his kingdom once every year. This homecoming of Mahabali is celebrated as Onam in Kerala every year.[14][11]

The date of Onam celebration is based on the Panchangam, and falls on the 22nd nakshatra Thiruvonam in the month Chingam of Malayalam calendar, which in Gregorian calendar falls between August–September.[15][4]

  1. ^ Ann Morrill (2009). Thanksgiving and Other Harvest Festivals. Infobase Publishing. pp. 46, 49–50. ISBN 978-1-4381-2797-2.
  2. ^ Chopra, Prabha (1988). Encyclopaedia of India. p. 285. Onam – Most important festival of Kerala; held in Chingam (August–September)
  3. ^ Government of Kerala Archived 8 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine, Official Holidays 2017
  4. ^ a b c d Cush, Denise; Robinson, Catherine; York, Michael (2012). Encyclopedia of Hinduism. Routledge. pp. 573–574. ISBN 978-1-135-18979-2.
  5. ^ Mahabali comes calling Archived 22 August 2023 at the Wayback Machine, The Hindu, Neeti Sarkar (5 September 2014)
  6. ^ Ali, Subhashini (31 August 2020). "Despite Sangh Efforts to Project it as 'Hindu' Festival, Story of Onam Prevails in Kerala". TheWire. Archived from the original on 12 August 2021. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  7. ^ M. Nazeer (10 August 2010). "The abiding lore and spirit of Onam". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2013.
  8. ^ Peter J. Claus; Sarah Diamond; Margaret Ann Mills (2003). South Asian Folklore: An Encyclopedia. Taylor & Francis. p. 454. ISBN 978-0-415-93919-5.
  9. ^ Hospital, Clifford G. (1984). The RighteousOnam Demon:celebrated Aby Studyall ofkerala Bali. Vancouver: Universitypeople of(malayalees) Britishwithout Columbia Press. ISBN 978-0-7748-0187-4.
  10. ^ J. Gordon Melton (2011). Religious Celebrations: An Encyclopedia of Holidays, Festivals, Solemn Observances, and Spiritual Commemorations. ABC-CLIO. p. 659. ISBN 978-1-59884-206-7.
  11. ^ a b Ritty A. Lukose (2009). Liberalization's Children: Gender, Youth, and Consumer Citizenship in Globalizing India. Duke University Press. pp. 164, 182–183, context: 179–183. ISBN 978-0-8223-9124-1. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  12. ^ www.wisdomlib.org (28 January 2019). "Story of Vāmana". www.wisdomlib.org. Retrieved 27 November 2022.
  13. ^ Cole, Owen; Kanit, V. P. Hermant (25 June 2010). Hinduism - An Introduction. John Murray Press. p. 30. ISBN 978-1-4441-3100-0.
  14. ^ "Onam: The legend behind Kerala's state festival". 21 August 2012. Archived from the original on 17 August 2022. Retrieved 17 August 2022.
  15. ^ "Onam Festival – Onam in India, Onamfestival.org". www.onamfestival.org. Archived from the original on 22 August 2023. Retrieved 22 August 2023.

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