The Mythical Roots of Onam: Tales from Kerala's Rich Tradition

India is known as the 'land of diversity' because we have various types of food, we speak different languages, practice different religions and celebrate different festivals. Different festivals have associations with different gods. Like Diwali is linked to lord Rama, Janmashtami is associated with lord Krishna and Ganesh Chaturthi is the festival of lord Ganesha. Similarly, South India’s most famous and joyous festival, Onam draws a connection with fifth incarnation of lord Vishnu and King Mahabali.   

Before diving in the details of the legends behind this festival, let’s just understand the agrarian aspect of Onam.  

Onam is an annual Hindu festival that typically occurs between August and September. It is celebrated for ten days and is considered the state festival of Kerala, a southern state in India. Onam commemorates New Year's Day and is also recognized as a harvest festival.

Onam Sadya | Image credits - Pexels

Legend of King Mahabali

Vamana and King Mahabali | Image credits - The Hindu

Legend has it that Mahabali, the mythical beloved king of Kerala, visits his subjects on the day of Thiruvonam after ascending from the netherworld. Mahabali, a devotee of Lord Vishnu, was the son of Virochan and the grandson of Prahalad. He was a righteous and charitable man and treated all his subjects equally.

The Vaman avatar of lord Vishnu is also known as Trivikraman which means three steps Vamana in English means someone of short stature or like a dwarf. Vamana was born to the great sage Kashyap and his wife Aditi. The sons of Aditi were called Adityas and Vamana was the youngest Aditya.

King Mahabali or Maveli was a generous and virtuous ruler, who had once ruled Kerala. During his rule, the kingdom became so prosperous that devas (gods of the Heaven) felt jealous about this and also for the reason that King Mahabali was an asura - a member of the demon clan - who were the enemies of devas. So, they sent Lord Vishnu in the guise of Vamana (a dwarf) to King Mahabali. As an offering from the generous king, Vamana requested Mahabali for three feet of land. And at the time of measuring the three feet of land, Vamana grew so huge that he measured all the worlds in two steps. Since he had nowhere else to place his third step, Mahabali asked Vamana to place it on his head. Pleased by his benevolence, Vamana blessed Mahabali before he was sent to the nether world and granted him permission to visit his dear subjects once in a year. This occasion is celebrated by all Keralites

Legend behind feeding a poor person on Onam

Image credits - Indian Express

The story goes that several years ago some people were traveling in the boat called Palliodam when all of a sudden the boat got stuck in the bend in the river. The oarsmen tried to move it but were unsuccessful. The spiritual head, Bhattathiripad who was boarding the same boat Palliyodam, thought that it was a bad omen as the boat was laden with food. He came to river bank to seek help and saw a hut by a dim light that was glowing. He decided to visit the hut and ask for help.

When Bhattathiripad went close to the hut he saw a poor widow weeping and some children sleeping besides her. The woman told Bhattathiripad that her children slept off hungry and she has no food to feed them. Bhattathiripad was moved by her pathetic state. He went to the boat Palliyodam and brought food for the family. When the family became happy with the food, boat Palliodam could be easily maneuvered to the main course of river again.

From then on began the tradition of feeding one poor person on the day of Onam.

Legend behind Brahmins bringing food to Aranmulla Temple on Onam

Aranmulla Temple | Image credits - Wikipedia

It is said that once, about 10 kilometers up the river Pampa from Aranmulla, the head of the Katoor Mana, a Nambudiri family, had a bath in the river. He said his prayers and waited to feed a poor man to complete his ritual. He waited for long but nobody came. Tired of waiting, the Brahmin closed his eyes and began to pray to Lord Krishna. As soon he opened his eyes, he saw a small boy in tatters before him. The devout Brahmin gave a bath to the boy, a set of clothes and a sumptuous meal.

To the surprise of the Brahmin. the boy vanished as soon as he finished his meal. He looked for the boy and spotted him near Aranmulla Temple. But, the boy disappeared again.

The Brahmin came to the conclusion that he was no ordinary boy and was God himself. From then on the Brahsmin brought food to Aranmulla Temple every year during Onam.

Image credits - Freepik

In conclusion, the festival of Onam is a vibrant fest woven from the rich threads of legend, tradition and cultural unity. The tales of King Mahabali’s benevolence and Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar not only celebrate the triumph of virtue and humility but also reinforce the values of harmony and generosity that are central to the spirit of Onam. As communities come together to celebrate with grand feasts, colourful floral decorations, and traditional dance, they do more than honour a cherished myth—they give a sense of togetherness and shared heritage. Through these timeless stories and joyous celebrations, Onam remains a powerful reminder of the enduring values that unite us and the importance of embracing our cultural roots with pride and enthusiasm.