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Like many
other festivals the festival of Onam too has many legends
surrounding it. There are many stories associated with the
celebration of this festival. Some of the most popular stories
regarding onam are :
King Mahabali returns:
Long long ago, there lived a kind yet mighty demon-king Mahabali,
who was the ruler of Kerala. His people were happy to have him
as the king and there was no sorrow, poverty, disease or
untimely death in his kingdom. Afraid of his rising popularity,
the ever-jealous gods approached Lord Vishnu with a request to
put an end to his rule. Counting on his charitable nature,
Vishnu disguised himself as a Brahmin dwarf called Vaman and
sought three steps of land from Mahabali. However, Vishnu then
increased his size to cosmic proportions and covered the entire
earth in one step and the entire heaven in the second. When he
asked Mahabali, where to place his third step, he humbly offered
his head to the divine deity. Pleased with his virtues, Vishnu
made him the king of hell and granted a boon to him that he
could visit his kingdom once a year. Thus, Onam is celebrated to
welcome the legendary king returning annually to his earthly
abode and kingdom.
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The
story of Palliodam boat
Once when some men were sailing on a boat called Palliodam,
which was laden with food, it got stuck in the narrow turning of
the river. The head oarsmen called Bhattathiripad set out to
seek help from the hut near the river. However, when he reached
there he found a poor widow and her children weeping because of
hunger and poverty. The kind-hearted man took some food from his
boat and gave it to them. As soon as it was done, the boat could
be easily maneouvered to the main course of river again. Since
that day, it has become a tradition to feed a poor person at
least on the day of Onam. |
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A Vanishing
Boy:
Once the head of Katoor Mana, the Nambuditi Brahmin family, was
bathing on the near Aranmulla in river Pampa. After offering
prayers to the Gods, he was waiting for a poor man to feed to
complete his religious duties. While waiting, he started praying
to Lord Krishna. After some time he saw a poor boy in rags
standing before him. The Brahmin lovingly gave him a bath,
dressed him and fed him well. However, it is said that the boy
disappeared after eating and could be found nowhere. Just once
he spotted the boy near the Aranmulla Temple just to lose him
again. Brahmin concluded the boy to be the God himself and since
then Nambudiri Brahmins offer food to the deity in Aranmulla
Temple on Onam every year. |
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