Onam Celebration

 ONAM CELEBRATION

Onam is one of the biggest festivals celebrated in God’s Own Country (Kerala).

It is a festival celebrated by all Keralite and Malayali communities who are originated from Kerala. This 10-day festival is celebrated to welcome the King Mahabali whose spirits visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

This year the Onam celebration began from 22nd August (Saturday) and will end on 2nd September (Wednesday). The most important day that is, Thiruvonam is celebrated today (31st August).

Onam celebrated with diverse cultural activities with lots of enthusiasm and zest. There are various cultural events like Vallam Kali (Boat racing), Pullikali (Tiger Dance), Pookkalam/ Athapoo (flower rangoli), Onam Sadya (feast), Onam kali (games), etc.

Pookkalam 

Pookkalam (flower rangoli or flower carpet) is made from different flowers from small to large. Women decorate their home entrance and temple premises with different designs or patterns made from varieties of flowers (pookkalam).

On the first day of Onam (Atham day), the pookkalam is laid with yellow flowers and simple design. The size of pookalam increases relatively with each day of the Onam celebration. Various pookalam competitions are held and every woman participates in it with full enthusiasm on Onam day.

Women wear an off-white Kasavu sari with a golden border paired with matching jewelry while men wear white mundu (dhoti) with a shirt.

Vallam Kali (Boat Racing)

Vallam Kali is a boat racing event that is held on the Onam day celebration in Pampa River, Kerala. The men compete with each other in snake-shaped boats. A large crowd of people from different districts witnesses and cheer people participating in the boat race. It is an event infused with energy, the large number of oarsmen gearing up to row with full strength in spellbinder synchronization.  

Music and Dance

Onam is celebrated with various dance forms performed by people of Kerala such as Thiruvathira, Katakalli Kummattikali, Pulikali, Thumbi Thullal, Onam Kali, etc. Kathakali dance performance is the tradition of Onam celebration and thiruvathira is performed by the women in a circle around the lighting lamp, tree, or pole. Pullika is a tiger dance that is performed by the men who paint themselves like tigers in bright yellow, red and black. At the Thrikkakara temple, every day of Onam celebration one or more music and dance forms are performed including Kathakali, Onam Kali, Thiruvathira, Chakyar Koothu, OttamThullal, Chandamela, Patakam, and various instrument shows.

Onam Sadya

Onam Sadya (feast) is an important part of Thiruvonam celebration. Onam Sadhya, ' is a sensational multi-course vegetarian meal that features over 24 dishes on an ella (banana leaf). The usual items on Onam Sadya include Rice, sambhar, Parippu Curry (Dal) with ghee, Kichadi, Avail, Thoran, Pachadi, Rasam, Pulseri, Moru, Pachadi, Pappadam, banana chip, sharkaravareti, Payasam,etc.. 

Onam Sadya meal is had by all the family members while sitting on the floor and there is a famous Malayalam proverb "Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam" which means One must have Onam lunch if they had to sell their property. 

Onam Sadya symbolizes the togetherness of the family and their beliefs on the culture. 

The largest part of Onam celebrations ends by Thiruvonam but the two days following Thiruvonam are also celebrated as Third and Fourth Onam. The Avvittom (third day of Onam) marked the preparation for King Mahabali's return to the heavens. The main ritual of the day is to take the Onathappan statue (a  pyramid-shaped figure that symbolizes Vamana) which was placed in the middle of every Pookkalam during the past 10 days and on the 10th day, it is immersed in nearby rivers or sea. The Pookkalam will be cleaned and removed after Mahabali’s return.

This year Onam celebration would be different as there won’t be any outdoor events such as Vallamkali, Pulikali, Onam Kali, music and dance celebration due to this pandemic but this time King Mahabali is welcomed with a carpet of flowers (pookalam) and Onam Sadyas (feasts) from our homes with full of great joy and enthusiasm.

May this Onam bring lots of happiness and joy in our lives.

Happy Onam everyone (Onam dinam ashamsakal ellavarkkum)