Thiruvananthapuram: After the Wayanad tragedy, the entire state of Kerala came together in a display of unity and togetherness, celebrating the harvest festival of Onam with ritualistic fervour and gaiety on Sunday. This was a symbolic gesture of healing through tradition.
According to folklore, Onam is a festival connected with the return of the mythical demon king Mahabali, under whose reign everyone lived happily.
Legend has it that envious of his popularity, the Devas (Gods) sought the help of Lord Vishnu to get him banished into the netherworld (Pataal Lok), but before going down, Mahabali secured a boon from Vishnu to visit his subjects every year on Thiruvonam Day.
Marking the “Thiruvonam”, the most auspicious day of the 10-day-long festival, people wore traditional ‘kasavu’ sarees and ‘mundu’ (dhoti) and visited temples across the state.
Devotees thronged Guruvayur Sree Krishna Temple and Sabarimala Ayyappa Swamy temple.
Despite the recent devastating landslides in Wayanad, which claimed hundreds of lives and injured several hundred, the spirit of Onam was not dampened.
The government has already announced that there won’t be any official Onam celebration due to the recent devastating landslides in Wayanad that killed hundreds of people and injured several hundred.
However, the state was filled with joy and happiness as it witnessed traditional celebrations for Onam. Youngsters and children decorated their homes with colourful floral carpets, and elders gifted ‘onakkodi’ (new clothes) to other family members, spreading the joy of the festival.
‘Oonjal’, the traditional swing, also graced the courtyards of many homes as part of festivities.
Family members prepared a sumptuous ‘onasadya’ (feast) consisting of various vegetarian dishes and the delicious dessert ‘payasam’.
Reviving memories of a glorious past, traditional games, including Vadamvali” (tug-of-war) and Uriyadi” (break the pot), and art forms like Pulikkali and Thiruvathira were organised under the aegis of local clubs.
President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among those who extended greetings to the people of Kerala.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin, Opposition leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS), and state BJP president K. Annamalai also greeted the people on the festival.
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–IANS
