Thiru Onam is celebrated in the second half of August (the Chingam month of Kollam Era) when the August monsoon rains come to an end and the summer heat gives way to the pleasant warmth of the Kerala autumn. Anthropologists see in Onam a great fertility rite, the ceremony of Thanksgiving for a plentiful harvest. For Keralites Onam is the celebration of the return of Mahabali, their once beloved king.

Onam or Thiruonam originated as a joyous annual reminiscence of the golden rule of King Mahabali, a mythical king, who ruled Kerala a very long time ago. It recalls the sacrifice of the great king, his true devotion to God, his human pride and his ultimate redemption. This king once ruled over the Keralites during the Golden Age before caste existed, "when all men were equal, when no one was poor, when there was neither theft nor dread of thieves" (Maveli natu vanitum kalam... Manusharellam onnu pole ... ).

Onam Legends & Stories

Like any Indian festival there are many legends and stories attached to onam too. Nambudiri Brahmins of Kerala celebrate it with a special fervor as they attribute its origin to their own community. Some of the popular legends related to Onam have been narrated below:

Return Of Mahabali:
Long long ago, there lived a kind yet mighty demon-king Mahabali, who was the ruler of Kerala. His people were happy to have him as the king and there was no sorrow, poverty, disease or untimely death in his kingdom. Afraid of his rising popularity, the ever-jealous gods approached Lord Vishnu with a request to put an end to his rule. Counting on his charitable nature, Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin dwarf called Vaman and sought three steps of land from Mahabali. However, Vishnu then increased his size to cosmic proportions and covered the entire earth in one step and the entire heaven in the second. When he asked Mahabali, where to place his third step, he humbly offered his head to the divine deity. Pleased with his virtues, Vishnu made him the king of hell and granted a boon to him that he could visit his kingdom once a year. Thus, Onam is celebrated to welcome the legendary king returning annually to his earthly abode and kingdom.

Boat Palliodam:
Once when some men were sailing on a boat called Palliodam, which was laden with food, it got stuck in the narrow turning of the river. The head oarsmen called Bhattathiripad set out to seek help from the hut near the river. However, when he reached there he found a poor widow and her children weeping because of hunger and poverty. The kind-hearted man took some food from his boat and gave it to them. As soon as it was done, the boat could be easily maneouvered to the main course of river again. Since that day, it has become a tradition to feed a poor person at least on the day of Onam.

Vanishing Boy:
Once the head of Katoor Mana, the Nambudiri Brahmin family, was bathing on the near Aranmulla in river Pampa. After offering prayers to the Gods, he was waiting for a poor man to feed to complete his religious duties. While waiting, he started praying to Lord Krishna. After some time he saw a poor boy in rags standing before him. The Brahmin lovingly gave him a bath, dressed him and fed him well. However, it is said that the boy disappeared after eating and could be found nowhere. Just once he spotted the boy near the Aranmulla Temple just to lose him again. Brahmin concluded the boy to be the God himself and since then Nambudiri Brahmins offer food to the deity in Aranmulla Temple on Onam every year.