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Thiruonam ( Onam) Festival Page | Diwali| Ganesha Chathurthi| Rama Navami | Sivaratri | Vishu
Onam is the principal festival of the state of Kerala. It is an unusual festival, in the sense that it reveres the memory of a local demon king, Mahabali, who was ousted from his kingdom by Lord Vishnu. It is believed that the people of the region were extremely happy and content during his rule. So much so, that the gods got envious of him and asked Lord Vishnu to take away his kingdom. Lord Vishnu disguised as a Brahmin dwarf Vamana, asked the King for three steps of land, which he readily granted. Vishnu then shed his disguise and covered the earth and heaven in two steps. For the third, King Mahabali offered his head. However, before putting his foot on Mahabali’s head, Lord Vishnu granted the King’s last wish, that he be able to visit his kingdom once every year. It is to welcome Mahabali back to his kingdom that Onam is celebarated. Depending on the positioning of the stars and
the moon, the festival is held at the end of August or beginning of September,
less than a fortnight after the Malayalam New Year, Chingam begins More information.... |
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