Can you feel it in the air? That special festive buzz? The smell of fresh flowers and delicious food wafting from the neighbours kitchen? That can only mean one thing , that the Onam is here!
Tomorrow is Thiruvonam, the main day of the festival. For all my friends who aren't from Kerala, you must be wondering what this beautiful festival is all about. Let me tell you the simple story.
Why We Celebrate Onam: A King's Promise
Long, long ago, there was a great king named Mahabali who ruled over Kerala. He was the best king ever! Everyone was happy, prosperous, and treated equally. There was no sadness in his kingdom.
He became so popular that the gods got a little worried. So, Lord Vishnu came down to earth disguised as a small boy named Vamana. He tricked the noble King Mahabali and sent him to the underworld. But, because Mahabali was such a good soul, Vishnu gave him a promise: once every year, he could come back to visit his beloved people.
Onam is the celebration of his homecoming! We decorate our homes and our hearts to welcome our favourite king.
I will update the photo of our office pookkalam once it's done
The Best Parts of Onam!
So, what do we do during Onam? Oh, all the best things!
1. The Flower Carpet (Pookkalam):
This is my favourite part. Every morning for 10 days, we make a beautiful carpet design on the floor using fresh flower petals. It’s like a beautiful ‘rangoli’ but made entirely of flowers. It starts small on the first day and gets bigger and bigger every day. It's our way of saying "Welcome Home, King Mahabali!"
2. The Food! Oh, the Onam Sadya!
Let's be honest, this is everyone's favourite part. The Onam Sadya is a massive, mouth-watering vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf. It has everything – rice, dal with ghee, sambar, aviyal, pachadi, pickles, papadam, and of course, the yummy payasam for dessert. We're talking more than 20 dishes on one leaf! It’s a full-on food festival.
3. New Clothes and Family Time
Onam means getting new clothes, which we call ‘Onakkodi’. Everyone wears their best traditional outfits – the beautiful cream and gold Kasavu saree for women and the Mundu for men. It’s a time for the whole family to get together, laugh, talk, and just be happy.
Onam Vibe in Bengaluru
Even here in Bengaluru, the Onam feeling is full-on! You can see flower sellers with baskets full of colourful flowers on every street corner. The supermarkets have special 'Onam kits' with all the items for the Sadya. And almost every Kerala restaurant is booked for the grand feast tomorrow! It feels like a little piece of Kerala right here.
All in all, Onam is not just a festival. It’s a feeling of happiness, unity, and hope. It reminds us of a time when everyone was equal and joyful.
Wishing you all a very happy and prosperous Onam! Eat well and be happy!
Onam Ashamsakal!