Onam, the most important and popular festival in Kerala, to cherish the harvest season and the end of the monsoon season. As per legends, the festival is related to King Mahabali’s annual homecoming, showering joy and prosperity to every household. The festival spans 10 days and every day holds significance and rituals and helps you establish a deep connection to nature and enjoy the cultural heritage. Starting with Atham, Onam concludes with Thiruvonam and brings people together. If you want to know more about Onam and its significance and history, here is a blog for you. Let’s take a look below!
About Onam Festival
Onam festival is a 10-day long festival that is primarily celebrated in Kerala by Hindus, and it marks the Malayalam New Year. Being a harvest festival, it is a time of joy and celebration to signify the abundance of the year’s crops. The word “Onam” comes from shravanam, a Sanskrit word, which is related to constellations. One of the main features of the Onam festival is Pookalam – an intricate flower design. Besides the creation of Onam Pookalam, traditional dances like Theyyam and Kathakali also play a crucial role in the celebrations.
History of Onam
According to Hindu mythology, Onam surrounds the mythological tale of King Mahabali, the Asura King’s homecoming from the Patal Lok. Though his stories depict him as a demon king, he is considered a benevolent and generous ruler. Even though he is celebrated for this reason, King Mahabali defeated the Gods to take over three worlds. That’s why the Gods despised him and requested Lord Vishnu to help them fight Mahabali.
Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Vamana and tricked King Mahabali into surrendering his kingdom in three strides. Vishnu grew in size and engulfed his kingdom in two steps. King Mahabali followed his words and offered his head as the third step. Impressed by his devotion, Vishnu granted Mahabali a yearly visit to the kingdom and his annual visit is celebrated as Onam.
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Meaning of Onam Festival
Onam holds great religious significance in Kerala as people show their gratitude for a good harvest. Beyond the myths and traditions, the festival symbolises agricultural prosperity. It also signifies the joy of gatherings and the abundance of harvest. Needless to say, the festival fosters a sense of community and strengthens social bonds. Onam also signifies hope and renewal and a promise of a prosperous year.
Onam Traditions
The festival follows different traditions, and the rituals are deep-rooted in Kerala’s cultural heritage. One such is Onam Pookalam, an intricate floral carpet, that devotees put at the entrance of homes to commemorate the homecoming of the demon king. Moreover, Onam is incomplete without Kathakali, Thiruvathira Kali, and Pulikali. These traditional performances capture the cultural richness of the southern state through their colourful costumes and detailed makeup.
For example, Pulikali involves artists who paint themselves as tigers and hunters to create a thrilling spectacle. On the other hand, Kathakali focuses on storytelling and expressive gestures, creating a visual treat to tell the stories of valour and mythological tales. Also, Thiruvathira Kali highlights the essence of the Onam festival, unveiling the cultural legacy.
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Onam Sadya or Onasadya
Sadya literally means banquet in Malayalam and it is served on banana leaves. Usually, Sadya consists of over 29 dishes such as rice, vegetables, pickles, pachadi, etc. Pachadi is a condiment made of buttermilk or yoghurt, upperis are crispy snacks, and payasam is a sweet rice pudding made with milk, spices, and sugar.
In specific customs, devotees cover Palmyra tree with dry leaves that are surrounded by a wooden balustrade in the temples. They decorate the tree with a torch that is burned to ashes to symbolise the sacrifice of King Mahabali. On the other side, people make a swing slung where young men and women sing Onapaatu and rock the swings to cherish Onam festival. It is one of the essential parts of the festival.
Onam Pookalam Design Ideas 2024
The meaning of “poo” in pookalam is flowers, and “kalam” means colourful sketches on the ground. It is considered auspicious and created to welcome King Mahabali. People use thumba, tusli, jamanthi, and chemarathy for pookalam designs. Below, we mention a few pookalam design ideas that you should try in 2024:
1. Easy Pookalam Design Idea
If you are in a hurry, you can make a pookalam with 10 rings. On the 10th day of Onam festival, the pookalam design must have 10 rings. You can draw concentric rings and fill the rings with different coloured petals for a simple design.
2. Creative Pookalam Design with Flowers
You can unleash your creativity with an intricate design while making the rangoli for Onam. As you know what pookalam stands for, you can recreate the story of King Mahabali. Make the figure of the demon king with flowers to welcome his arrival on earth.
3. Atha Pookalam Kathakali Design
Kathakali is an integral part of Kerala’s culture and Onam celebrations. You can infuse rich colours to design the face of a Kathakali dancer — create a headgear design of the Kathakali dancer in vibrant colours and flowers. As Kathakali is a dance-drama art form depicting the life of Lord Krishna, this Onam pookalam design will bring in blessings of the lord to your home.
4. Simple Pookalam Design with Kids
If you want to do a small pookalam, you can start with a ring of rose petals and marigolds. Remember, not every pookalam features concentric circles — ask your kids and family members to join in. You can take inspiration from the shape of petals and make a beautiful pookalam design.
Though Thiruvonam is the main day of Onam, Avittom or third Onam and Chatayam or fourth Onam are also considered auspicious days of the festival. Once the preparations for the King Mahabali are underway, people clear Pookalam. With great pomp, the festival might be celebrated in Kerala but it is also widely celebrated across the world. Among Malayali diaspora in Singapore, USA, and UAE, Onam celebrations are notable.
Also Read: Kalighat Kali Temple, Kolkata: History, Legends & Timings
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is Onam and why it is celebrated?
Onam is a ten-day-long festival celebrated primarily in Kerala, India. It marks the Malayalam New Year, is a harvest festival, and commemorates the legendary King Mahabali.
2. Which is the main day of Onam 2024?
The main day of Onam 2024 is Thiruvonam, which falls on September 15. This is the day when the most significant celebrations and rituals take place, including the grand feast known as Sadya.
3. What do you eat on Onam?
On Onam, we typically enjoy a grand feast called Sadya, which consists of over 20 dishes served on a banana leaf. The feast includes a variety of rice, vegetables, dals, pickles, and sweet dishes like Payasam.
4. What do people wear on Onam?
People typically wear traditional Kerala attire during Onam. Women often wear sarees or Kasavu sarees, while men opt for dhotis and shirts. These outfits are often adorned with vibrant colours and intricate designs.
5. What is day 2 of Onam?
Day 2 of Onam is known as Chodhi. It is a day of preparation for the main celebration on Thiruvonam. Many people start decorating their homes with Pookalam and preparing for the grand feast.
