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Kerala is believed to have originated when Parasurama, a warrior sage, the 6th incarnation of Lord Vishnu, ordered the violent sea to recede by throwing his axe into the sea. The sea obeyed his command and the land that egressed of the seawaters came to be known as Kerala. It is the legend about the origin of Kerala which we studied in the Lower Primary Classes. We had first quarterly examinations in the months of August - September and after which the school closed for ten days during those holidays we celebrated Onam festival. After the second quarterly examinations, the school would close for ten days in December and in those days we celebrated Christmas. Then, towards the end of March, there would be the Annual examination after which the schools close for two months, April & May, for the mid summer vacation.
I remember everything about Onam celebrations which I had learnt in the lower classes. Onam falls in the month of Chingam ( Aug - Sept ). There is a legend about Onam. Once upon a time, there lived an Asura ( a demon ) King called Mahabali, who ruled over Kerala. Under his rule, the land flourished. The subjects had no complaints about the King. Seeing this, the Devas ( divine beings ) became disturbed. They approached Lord Vishnu for a solution. Lord Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin dwarf Vamana, approached King Mahabali. He asked three footsteps of land. Mahabali, being generous, allowed to give him three steps of land. Suddenly, Vamana grew up like a giant. He measured the Earth with one step, measured the Sky with another, then he asked where was the third one. Mahabali bowed his head and asked Vamana to place his leg on his head. Vamana did so and Mahabali was forced to go into the hell. But before going to hell, Mahabali asked Vamana to give him an opportunity to visit his subjects once in a year. It was allowed. Therefore, the Hindu community in Kerala, from the early times itself believed that every year, Mahabali comes to visit them on the day of Thiruonam. The celebrations would last for ten days. The main attraction of this celebration is the floral arrangement in the courtyard. I remember some of my classmates coming to the 'uncultivated land' near our house when I was in Lower Primary Classes, to pluck flowers. By the time I reached VIIth Std, my father had cut almost all the branches of jasmine flowers. But some of them still survived.
Some historians have made a conclusion that Onam started as a harvest festival because many crops, including rice ripened and all flowering plants were full of flowers during this season. Later, Onam acquired a wide acceptibility and it was declared as the State Festival of Kerala. The month of Chingam has many specialities. Onaveyil- the sunlight in Chingam is very special. It has a pale yellow colour during this month. Onanilaavu - moonlight in Chingam - it is to be seen and appreciated. There would be butterflies and onathumbi ( dragon- fly ) . There would be swinging on a swing, mostly by girls. Thumbithullal is a pastime of women during Onam celebrations. Onathar is a Theyyam form that was once popular in Kannur & Kasargod districts. King Mahabali is also known as Maaveeli and Onathappan. There are many onappattukal ( songs related to Onam ). I think I can write down one of them here :-
"When Maaveeli ruled the kingdomAll the humans were equal
When they dwelt with happines
There was no danger to anyone
There was neither falsehood nor deceit
No frauds at all
Measures and weights were correct
Noone cheated any other fellow".
My classmates would say about large floral arrangements in their courtyards. Therefore, I had tried once or twice to make a floral design in my courtyard. But sad to say, I had made very small designs. Nowadays, everything has changed. I wonder where have gone the sunlight in Chingam and also the moonlight. The flowering plants are also gone. But I know that somewhere in the rural areas, they still exist. Though I explained all facts, I forgot one thing - onasadya - ( the traditional feast with twenty one home made curries & sweet payasam on plantain leaf and rice)
In my house, there would be sambar and avial only as curries. On the day of Thiruonam, my mother would declare - "if there is anyone to work in the kitchen, I shall make the curries". I would silently go to the kitchen and stand there. She would give me some works - sometimes to scrape coconut or to grind coconut. She would examine the manner in which I do the work and say,"is it the way to grind coconuts ? It has not at all ground". Then I would get angry and go to the rubber plantation either with my sister or with my brother.Similarly was the case with Christmas & Easter. When I was in VIIth Std, I hated these days because I had heard a lot of abusive words from my mother on those special days. After vacation, when the students return to the class and describe their experiences, I would think, " Is it real ? Sometimes they would be pretending and telling false stories."
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