Onam, the harvest festival, is a significant event in Kerala, India, celebrated between August and September. It commemorates the return of King Mahabali to Kerala after a long absence. The festival's name comes from the Sanskrit word "Ona," meaning "auspicious day" or "festival." The exact year of its origin is unknown.

Onam is a festival celebrated in Kerala, India, commemorating the mythological story of King Mahabali. It lasts for ten days and involves various traditions and rituals. One practice is to eat every leaf found on your banana plantation to bring good luck to your family members. Devotees bathe, offer prayers, wear colorful traditional clothes, make flower rangolis called Pookalam, and cook a traditional dish called Sadhya.

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In summary, Onam is a secular homecoming festival that brings people together and signifies victory over darkness. It represents India's rich culture and heritage and is one of Asia's most widely celebrated festivals.

Onam Festival History

Onam is a harvest festival that celebrates the return of King Mahabali to Kerala after he had been away for a long time. The name Onam comes from the Sanskrit word “Ona” meaning “auspicious day” or “festival”, by which it was also known in other states.The exact year when Onam first appeared is not known but scholars believe that this festival began during the rule of Parthian Emperor Ashoka (273-232 BC). They say that it originated as a celebration of an eclipse which occurred on this date every 12 years.

How to celebrate

The festival celebrates the mythological story of King Mahabali, who ruled over several kingdoms. This can be celebrated for 10 days. Onam has many traditions and rituals associated with it. One such tradition is that you need to go out on your banana plantation and make sure that every single leaf you find is eaten by someone else as it will bring good luck for your family members. This ensures that there are plenty of bananas and other crops around during the month of Chingam. Devotees bathe, offer prayers, wear colorful traditional clothes, make flower rangolis called ‘Pookalam’, and cook a traditional dish called ‘Sadhya’.

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SIGNIFICANT ITEMS USED WHILE CELEBRATING ONAM

Printed clothes

Onam is a great time to celebrate with your friends, family and loved ones. You can do that by wearing colorful printed clothes. There are many different kinds of printed clothes available in all shapes and sizes. You can find them in bright colors or beautiful patterns.

Mortar and Pestle

A brass mortar and pestle are used for grinding spices, herbs, nuts and grains. It can also be used to grind legumes. The mortar is usually made of cast iron or stainless steel with a rounded bottom that helps the user keep their fingers away from hot surfaces. The pestle has two handles on both sides so that it can be held in many different ways depending on how much force you want to apply when grinding your ingredients.

Printing blocks

Wooden printing blocks are used to create batik clothes by pressing them on the fabric with a hot iron. The wooden printing blocks available in all shapes and sizes, so you can choose one that suits your needs.

Copper Vessels

The Malayali occasion is a harvest festival that marks the culmination of a harvest season. The people welcome this time with joy and excitement as they celebrate their new crops and foods. During this period, you can decorate your home with to add an authentic look to your home décor.

Diyas

Diyas are a symbol of prosperity, happiness and good luck. They are made from clay, brass and other materials. Diyas are used for decoration during Onam. The diya is lit up with coconut oil to bring prosperity for everyone in your family who you visit on this auspicious day.This is a good time to meet family and friends and enjoy the festivities.

Urli

Urli, also pronounced as urli, is a traditional cookware significantly used in Kerala and neighbouring places. It is commonly made of clay, copper and bronze in all shapes and sizes. They are also used in homes for cooking rich delicacies as part of the Onam festivities.

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Conclusion

To sum up, Onam is a secular homecoming festival, bringing people together. Onam signifies victory over darkness. It is a representation of the rich culture and heritage of India. Onam is also one of the most widely celebrated festivals in Asia.