The celebration of Onam is a tribute to Mahabali's Sacrifice.Onam celebrations which last ten days being with a colour ful reception to King Mahabali
The Legend of King Mahabali is the monst popular and the most facinating of all lengends behind Onam. In ancinet times Kerala was rules by an asura King Mahabali who was very wise and greatly love by the people.Because of jealously , the king of gods, Indra hatched a plot to oust Mahabali. To execute the scheme Vishnu disuised humself as a Brahmin boy, Vamana and went tothe asura King Mahabali agreed to request .Vamana immediately began to grow as big as the universe and with two steps, he covered the earth , the heavens and the entire world.He looked at Mahabali to place his third step and the the king offered his head for Vamana to place his foot.Vamana pushed Mahabali down to the ground
and before he disappeared Mahabali asked vishnu for a born to come to the earth
once a year to see his people and the request granted.
The celebration of Onam is a tribute to Mahabali's sacrifice .Onam celebrations which last ten days begin with a colourful reception to King Mahabali is supposed to visit his kingdom on the 2nd aday, which is the most important day of the festival .Earthen mounds, which look somewhat like square pyramids, representing Mahabali and Vishnu are place the dung plasted courtyards and beautifully decorated with flowers.The legend isbelieved to have happend at Trikkakara , a place 10 km from Cochin on the Edapally -pookatupadi road which according to mythology was the legendary capital of King Mahabali.The Temple in Kerala withthe deity of Trikkakara Appan or Vamana Murthy who is Lord Vishn u humseld in disguise.
Onam Rituals
Religious and traditional people of Kerala sincerly follow all the customs and traditions set by their anceitors.A number of cultural programmes dances , songs and feasts , mark the festival.festivities of Onam continue for ten long days off all these days most important onces are the first day, Atham and the last or tenth day Thiruvonam.
