Millions of Malayalees the world over celebrate Thiruvonam, popularly known as Onam, with pomp and gaiety. The 10-day festival starts on Atham day and culminates on the Thiruvonam day. It falls during the month of Chingam (the first month in the Malayalam calendar).

This year, it falls on September 16 and the festivities have already begun to welcome King Mahabali. The fascinating legend of Mahabali epitomises the concern of a ruler for his people and also the selfless spirit of keeping a pledge even at the cost of hurting oneself .
During the Kritha Yug (or Satyug, about three million years ago), Lord Vishnu took the form of Narasimha (man-lion) to annihilate demon king Hiranyakashipu to redeem the people in the world and also the devas in heaven from Hiranyakashipu’s torment. Prahlad, the son of Hiranya, was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu, so the Lord promised him he would not kill anyone from Prahlad’s lineage. However, Prahlad’s grandson Mahabali, though a benevolent ruler who cared for his people, became a threat to Indra, the king of devas. Mahabali conquered all the worlds and was preparing for the ultimate conquest — the Ashwamedha yagna, which would elevate him as the new Indra if the yagna horses returned unchallenged. On the pleas of the devas, Lord Vishnu took the incarnation of Vamana, a charming scholarly dwarf, and went to Mahabali who was performing the yagna on the banks of Narmada at Bharuch.
Impressed by Vamana’s scholarship, Mahabali offered him wealth and land. But Vamana refused saying he only wants “just three paces of land” that he would measure with his own foot. With King Mahabali asking him to go ahead, Vamana grew huge as Trivikrama and measured the entire earth with one foot and took the skies with the second. He then asked Mahabali to tell him where he should place his third step. It is then that the great Mahabali offered him his head. Trivikrama placed his foot on Mahabali’s head and sent him to pataalam, a nether world not to be confused with hell. Also, Lord Vishnu showed his appreciation of the demon king’s virtues by becoming the dwarapalak (gatekeeper) of Mahabali’s kingdom and assuring him the position of Indra during the next manvantaram (four yugas make one chaturyuga of 4.3 million years and 71 such chaturyugas make one manvantaram). Lord Vishnu also approved of Mahabali’s request that he be allowed to visit earth once every year to ensure the welfare of his people. It is that annual visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Thiruvonam, as the grateful people welcome their benevolent king.
The festival is celebrated at the temples of Thripanithura, Thrikkakara and Thiruvananthapuram, for it is also the birthday of Lord Padmanabha. Conical forms of Mahabali and Vishnu are made out of clay and decorated with flowers for the festivities that aim at promoting friendship among all people. People wear new clothes as a sign of getting rid of ill feelings and ushering in positive energy. The Onam sadya (feast) consists of several delicacies and the ten days are also marked by the best of arts, dances and sports of Kerala. Also, Onapattu, the folk song describing the festivities of Onam are sung. They are meant to usher peace and prosperity.

Rajesh Govindarajulu is Coimbatore-based scholar specialising in religion, art and culture