Onam 2009 Date: When is Onam 2009? – 2009 Onam falls on 2nd September 2009.

Onam is an important festival of Kerala. It is celebrated in the beginning of the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kolla Varsham) called Chingam. This month corresponds to Bhadrapada (August-September) of Hindu calendar.

The Legend:
Once a demon king called Mahabali ruled the earth and had his kingdom in Kerala. He challenged Indra (the King of Heaven) to occupy his territory by doing sacrificial rite of Viswajith Yagna or Aswamedha Yagna on the banks of Narmada River and declared that he would give anything that anyone sought from him during this Yagna.

Indra and other gods feared and went to Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu incarnated in the form of Vamana and went to the banks of Narmada and begged 3 feet of land from King Mahabali. Once Mahabali has granted his wish, Vamana took His Universal form and with his 2 footsteps He covered whole universe including earth, heaven and sky. Since there was no place left for 3rd footstep of Vamana, Mahabali shown his head to Vamana to keep third footstep, as to keep up the promise he has given to Vamana. With that footstep Vamana pressed Mahabali to the world under the earth known as pathalam (Hindu mythology). However before pressing, him in to the pathalam, Lord Vishnu granted a boon to Mahabali that he is allowed to visit Kerala, once in every year. To convince the visiting king Mahabali, that the country is still prosperous as it was under his rule, Kerala people started celebrating that day as Onam with lot of food and dance.

Celebrations:
People of Kerala celebrate Onam with great enthusiasm and vigour. They welcome their King Mahabali by laying flower mats (Pookalam) in the front courtyard. They prepare a grand meal (Onamsadya), dance, play and make merry. All this is done to impress upon King Mahabali that his people are prosperous and happy.

Onam is also celebrated as a harvest festival of Kerala. Many cultural programs like bharatnatyam, mohiniyattam, and thiruvathira kali are organized everywhere. Onam songs or Thiruvathira songs are sung. People wear new clothes and a special feast called Onamsadya is prepared and sweets are distributed.