Onam is special to Malayalis not because it is just a harvest festival from a bygone Agrarian era. Those days harvest denoted the end of the 4 months period of toil in the field, during which people were forced to tighten their belt just to survive. The harvest brought paddy, vegetables, money, dresses etc to the household, and one is always happy when one has plenty of those. The month of Chingam is also hence considered auspicious to commence commercial activities, housing projects, and more importantly, now that rains are behind and there is plenty of money around, one can plan functions like Marriages, House Warming et al. Onam signifies prosperity, abundance, plentifulness. Even the nature expresses this wonderfully by decking the entire State with lovely flowers. With harvest on, there is considerable activity, jobs for the poor, disposable income on hand to fulfill their long standing wishes. It is the season of hope, a period to satisfy one's needs and to enjoy the fruits of one's labour. It is also why Onam is the festival looked forward most by Malayalis.
Much has changed at the ground level as the State moved away from an Agrarian Economy to a Services Economy, or rather a foreign inflow driven economy. But still there is joy abound as the whole State is on a holiday mood, people take a welcome break, have additional income from the annual bonus issued at around this time, and the NRK's (Non Resident Keralites) fly home in droves with suitcases bearing gifts to their nears and dears.
The period before this Onam has seen Kerala get copious rains, the Dams are full, the harvest is good, and there is much to look forward to.
Let People be Happy for the ten days at least. There is much to worry about during the rest 355 days. This is the time to recharge one's batteries and hope for a bright future.
Malarani Kadukal Thingi Vingi,
Marathaka Kanthiyil Mungi Pongi
Karalum Mizhiyum Kavarnu Minni
Karayattoralasal Grama Bhangi
(A loose translation - The forest of flowers is thick and dense, and the nature is radiating with the brilliance akin to those emanating from Emerald (Emerald is green and here the simile is with the greenery of Kerala). The heart and eyes are attracted and shining at this sight of blemishless beauty of the rural areas)
But the lines which has stayed in my memory from this poem, right from childhood are,
Evide thirinjonnu nokkiyalum
Avidellam pootha marangal mathram
Oru kochu kattengan vannu poyal
Thuru Thure poomazha ayi pinne
(Wherever you turn to and look, you will see only trees/plants in flowering state. And by chance if there were to be a gentle breeze, then it will be a rain of flowers)
Ha! Only Changampuzha can pen like this!!!! The description of the rain of flowers as Thuru thure poomazha ayi pinne has stuck a chord in me, never to be erased. It captures the beauty of the nature during Onam, like nothing else.
Here is wishing an year of peace, prosperity, abundance to all my Readers.
