Onasadya
(ओणसद्य)Literal Meaning
The Onam feast
Etymology & Sanskrit Root
Malayalam Onam + sadya (a feast).
Spiritual Insight & Context
The vegetarian feast of Onam served on a banana leaf, with many dishes, eaten on Thiruvonam.
Where Onasadya Comes Up
Onam and the Return of Mahabali
Kerala's grandest festival marks the yearly homecoming of King Mahabali, the generous asura ruler whom Vishnu as Vamana sent below, yet let return each year.
Topics
Vamana and King Mahabali: The Story Behind Onam
Vamana's three paces and King Bali's kept promise as the Bhagavata Purana tells it, and how Kerala's Onam tradition tells Mahabali's yearly return.
Katha