Onam 2022: Onam is an annual harvest festival celebrated with great enthusiasm in the Indian state of Kerala. It has great significance for the people of Kerala and is also the official festival of the state. The first day of the ten-day long festival is called Atham, and this year, the date of the same falls on August 30. Atham is considered auspicious for several reasons and marks the beginning of a ten-day grand festival. ,
Read also: Onam 2022: About Kerala’s 10-day Harvest Festival which marks the arrival of King Mahabali
According to the Malayalam calendar, Atham is celebrated in the month of Chingam, which corresponds to August/September. The first day marks the preparations for King Mahabali’s arrival in Kerala. It is said that King Mahabali, also known as Maveli, once ruled the kingdom.
Mythology says that Mahabali gave “three pieces of land” to Vamana, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu, on his request. Thereafter, Vamana grew in size and in his first and second stage respectively, he covered the sky and took the underworld. When he was about to take his third step, Mahabali surrendered his head. Lord Vishnu, pleased with his offering of sacrifice, granted him a boon that he could visit his kingdom every year during the festival of Onam.
Thrikkakara Temple in Kochi is considered to be the abode of Mahabali and people perform traditional darshan at the temple on this day as it is the central point of worship in Onam where the festival flag is hoisted and parades are held. The colorful displays of Kerala’s rich culture are adorned with tableaux and are a sight to behold.
A grand procession called Atchamayam begins at Thrippunithura near Kochi, the place from where the benevolent demon king was banished from the earth.
To celebrate the demon king’s affection for his devotees, people decorate their homes with a special flower rangoli called Pookalam. The beauty of this flower arrangement is that as the festival progresses in the days, the rangoli is made bigger by adding flowers. It is quite small in size on the first day and has yellow flowers. Initially it is called Athapu.
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