My Onam celebration

I was born in a family of middle-class parents, as the last but one of nine. We were all struggling hard to both ends meet, in the initial years. My father was not having a permanent job until he attained the age of forty. My maternal uncle was of very helpful to my family then. My mother used to work from dawn to dusk in the field and became a patient of many diseases at the middle age itself.

Despite all odds, we used to celebrate Onam in a grand scale on all the ten days. Onam falls during the month of September and hence nature itself looks very bright after rains, during the Onam period.

As children, we used to get up early in the morning and pluck flowers of all variety, from the nearby fields. There were plenty of flowers available in the nearby field. We used to decorate our courtyard, with colourful flowers for nine days except for the tenth day. On the main festival day of Onam, tenth day, pyramid type idols, made of mud, were placed on a plantain leaf over a special seat prepared for the idols. Fresh coconuts were broken on the day and its water was poured on the idols, to please the Gods.

People visited our home from nearby homes, to see the artistic work with flowers done at our courtyard. We also used to visit their homes. We used to exchange sweets and other dishes made during the festival period. We were all happy throughout the Onam days.

We bought raw banana from the market in lots and made chips out of it. We also bought ready to eat banana fruits, in bulk, with the full stem and put in the hook made of coir thread, which was fixed to the roof, so that the fruit does not get decayed and remain as fresh, for a couple of days more.

Offices and educational institutions remain closed for four days during Onam; there were big get-togethers taking place at each home, including mine. Uncles employed at different places outside the states also used to come during the festival. They used to bring new dresses to all family members. All of us used to get new dresses from relatives also. Everybody looked active and joyful during those periods. We used to get new pairs of dresses, during Onam days from our parents also. All the new dresses were neatly arranged in a cupboard and we were eager to show them, to our visitors.

Since the schools had a brief vacation for the festival, a lot of children used to collect at one common place and organized various sports and cultural events. Football and volleyball were common games played everywhere, but khokho and cricket were played at some places. Senior citizens spent their time playing cards, while ladies engaged themselves playing garbha type group dances, at selected homes. Talented actors organized dramas in the make-shift stages.

We were engaged to buy milk and curds in bulk from nearby homes or Milk co-operative credit societies for the preparation of special dishes for the festival. Ladies were mostly busy preparing dishes for the grand feast. It was common in all homes to force children to go outside and play in the field so that senior citizens in the home can take a small nap after the feast.

 

It is a belief that the Asura Raja, Mahabali, who ruled the state once, will visit all houses during Onam. When Lord Vishnu appeared before the Raja Mahabali in the form of Vamana avatar, requested to allot him only three foot’s space. Mahabali agreed as he was known for his philanthropy, in the whole world. So Vamana tried to test him once and dethrone the Raja, as he was from the Asura group. When Vamana placed his first step, the entire sky was over. In the second step, the entire earth also was covered. For keeping his foot for the third time, there was no space left.

Mahabali was loyal and an ardent believer of Gods, and hence he bowed his head before Vamana to place his foot. Realizing his loyalty, Vamana told him to ask for, one wish before placing foot on Raja’s head. It was his only wish that he be allowed to visit the people of his state, once in a year, to see their state of affairs.

By placing his third foot, Mahabali was forced to go to a unknown place, known as “pathal”, beneath earth. Everybody expects for the arrival of Lord Mahabali during Onam days and a grand feast is prepared and eaten at all homes. A plantain leaf with all the dishes placed therein is kept at a sacred place in the dining room, with a belief that their good old Lord would come and eat the feast during Onam days.                        

This is the story behind celebration of Onam.

On the fourth day of Onam, a few people from our village dressed as mascots, with half-dried bushes tied to their body with strings, would visit all nearby homes of our village, with a music group, to wish the residents. In return, they were offered cash and kind for displaying their art. A facial masque worn by the mascot protects him from his identity. Sometimes he visits his own home in disguise. Keeping a bamboo rod in his hand he will roam and dance through the streets, singing folk songs, along with the drum beats. We actively participated in the group.

Another group of people will get painted, to look like tigers and would dance through the roads, in various styles, in conjunction with the drumbeats, entertaining the onlookers. It is called tiger dance. Both these dances are still prevalent in my village. We enjoyed their looks and travelled with the group to the nearby villages also. We used to return late in the night and had a tough time to remove the paints from their body.

However, by settling now in a metropolitan city, these are just a few golden memories which still create nostalgia in my mind about the by-gone era and its culture of my village. Still, we take time to celebrate Onam, no matter where we live, whether in a distant corner of the world or my village itself.

Memories never die, because they are deep-rooted in our minds. Life and culture will go on forever, no matter whether you exist or not.

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