The Onam fable of Mahabali explains all the Malayalis irrespective of religion or caste celebrate the iconic Onam festival every year.
Onam Celebrations in Modern Kerala
Onam is celebrated every year in honor their favorite king’s arrival at Kerala. The festival, in fact, is an acknowledgement of the sacrifices of the king and good times during Mahabalis reign. People make a lot of arrangements to welcome the beloved king every year whom they remember as “Onathappan.”
They make huge efforts to please his spirit by depicting happiness in his empire and wish him warmly. Each of the ten days of the harvest festival of Kerala marks the progress of Mahabali’s journey back home and has significance. The 2nd day – Thiruvonam is the most significant day of the Onam festival.
Emperor Mahabali is believed to visit his empire and people on the 2nd day of the festival.
During the ten-day Onam celebration, devotees bathe, offer prayers, wear traditional clothes, draw flower rangolis called Pookalam and cook a traditional fest called Sadhya.
Popular Onam celebrations include Sadhya, Thiruvathira Kali, Pookalam, Ona-thallu, Pulikali, Onavillu, Vallam Kali (boat races), Onathappan, Tug of War, Onapottan, Thumbi Thullal, Kummattikali, Kazhchakkula, etc.
Onam’s celebrations are held in “Thrikkakara”, a place located 10 km away from Kochi on the road (Edapally-Pookattupadi). Thrikkara used to be the capital during the reign of Mahabali king. A temple having the divinity of ‘Thrikkakara Appan’, who is Vishnu behind the masquerade, is also situated in Thrikkakara. This captivating legend is artistically portrayed in “Suchindram Temple” located in Kanyakumari district.
The Onam Festival is organized in the 1st month (Chingam) of the Malayalam Calendar. Festivities of the Onam Festival begin around 10 days before Thiru Onam on Atham and Onam in 2022 will begin on Tuesday, 30 August, and will end on Thursday, 8 September.
Thiruvonam will be celebrated on September 08, Thursday.
Onam Celebrations 2022 in Kerala
During the Onam celebration, the serene and calm facade of God’s own country turns into a vibrant riot of colors and music.
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Pookalam
Flower beds and floral decorations commonly known as Pookkalam are the first to come to mind when talking about Onam & the legend of Mahabali. The traditional Ona-pookkalam consists of ten rings, which indicate the ten-day rituals performed during Onam, which start on “Atham” and end on “Thiru Onam” during the month of Chingam.
Onam Pookalam during the Onam celebration is set up to mark the homecoming of Emperor Mahabali.
“Onam Pookkalam” stands out as a sign of secularism. Onam Pookalam symbolizes the spirit of unity and teamwork as all the members of the family gather to get it done. Numerous kinds of flowers are used to create a beautiful Pookkalam, and the Pookkalam starts from Atham and ends at Thiruvonam to mirror the good old days during King Mahabali’s reign.
Onasadhya
The harvest festival of Kerala is celebrated with a colorful feast served on a banana leaf featuring over 25 dishes called ‘Onam Sadhya’. Onasadhya is the most famous traditional meal of Kerala and is served on a banana leaf on the last day (Thiruonam) of the Onam Festival.
Onasadhya means Onam Food Feast and is a symbol of prosperity that existed during of rule of Mahabali. The people of Kerala make sure that their king Mahabali sees them with the grandest meal on this auspicious day. All the people, rich or poor, across all regions in Kerala, prepare grand Onasadyas on the last day of the festival.
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Onasadhya is served on a green and properly washed banana leaf with a pappad on the left. Sarkaravaratti, banana wafers, salt, and fries are served on the right side of pappad next to which lie the ginger lime, and mango pickles.
Vegetarian items like pavakka, ullikitchadi, and Kitchadi (made up of banana and pineapple pieces) are placed next. Thoran (a mixture of vegetable curries) is served after this variety. After the meal, payasam is served as a dessert.
So, bring out the gigantic banana leaves and get cooking some of the best-loved meals of Kerala while you prepare the Onam Sadhya to celebrate the Onam festival 2022.
Snake-Boat Races
Another famous festivity performed at Onam is ‘Snake Boat Race’ which is held in ‘Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple’.
The famous Onam festival which is celebrated in August or September every year. So, August and September are the best months to visit Kerala. Here one can enjoy Kerala in its full magnificence during the Onam festival. One can also enjoy the exotic taste of Onasadhya, participate in decorating a Pookalam, and witness the true beauty of Kerala during the famous Onam Festival.
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Pulikali
Like any other Indian festival, there is a lot of singing and dancing associated with the Onam celebration as well.
Pulikali, aka Kaduvakali, is really beautiful folk-art which is skillfully performed by well-trained dancers to amuse and entertain the people at the festival. The artists dance excitedly and perform the hunting moves with the beats of musical instruments.
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In Malayalam language, Pulikali means ‘play of the tigers’. On the 4th day (Nalaam Onam) of the Onam festival, performers paint themselves like hunters and tigers with yellow, black, and red, paint and dance with the sound of thrilling music like Thakil, and Udukku. The performance is based on the theme of ‘tiger hunting’.
This dance is mostly practiced in the ‘Thrissur District’ of Kerala. Most suitable place to witness this dance is ‘Swaraj Round’, where Pulikali performing groups from the entire district gather to perform the folk art. This huge festival attracts a large number of tourists from round the world to this small Thrissur city.
With Onam pookalam, payasam, Onam sadhya, and kaikotto kali, this harvest festival of Kerala is full of merriment and of course loads of food.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When is Onam?
It is celebrated during Chingam (a month in Malayalam calendar) that usually starts between mid-August and lasts up to mid-September. The celebration typically lasts for 10 days, where Keralites indulge in numerous celebratory acts throughout the festival.
How is Onam celebrated?
Onam festival brings all the colours, history, culture and its beliefs of Kerala together. Flower carpets called Pookalam, banquet lunches, boat races, Puli Kali, and the Kaikottikkali dance are some of the major attractions of the festival.
What is the special and traditional food we eat on Onam festival?
Most symbolic of the onam festival is the Onam sadhya. Onam Sadhya is the traditional multi-course vegetarian meal served on the festive occasion, on a banana leaf featuring over 25 dishes.
Which is the most important part of the Onam festival?
It is a 10-day festival and the most important day of Onam is Thiruvonam. it is believed that Thiruvonam is the Nakshatra of Lord Vishnu who pressed the King Mahabali to the underworld with his foot. Onam is celebrated to honour the home-coming of a mythical-demon king Mahabali.
What does Onam signify?
Onam is a festival celebrated by Malayalis in Kerala or in any other part of the world to mark the homecoming of the Great King Mahabali. It is also said to mark the harvest season for Kerala. The festival lasts for ten days and is celebrated with a great splendour.