Onam is a festival that is hugely important within Kerala and is on a par with Christmas in the UK. We
are looking forward to its start which this year is on Monday 4th September.
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| Ladies creating a Pookalam flower mat |
People
believe that it was on the day of Onam that Lord Vishnu appeared in the kingdom
of King Mahabali and sent him to the nether world. According to legend it is on
the last day of Onam that the spirit of the King visits Kerala, hence the day
is marked by feast and festivities. To welcome their revered ruler, people lay
flower mats (Pookalam) in the front courtyard, prepare a grand meal (Onasadya),
dance, play and make merry. All this is done to impress upon the King that his
people are prosperous and happy.
As
it is a harvest season, the beautiful state of Kerala can be seen at its
magnificent best. Weather is pleasantly sunny and warm calling for mirth and
celebrations. Fields look brilliant and it is a boom time of fruits and
flowers. Farmers are happy with a bountiful harvest and celebrate the festival
to the hilt.
Onam
is the biggest festival of Kerala. But, there is a lot more to Onam than being
just a festival. Onam reflects the faith of the people of Kerala. A belief in
their legendary past, religion and power of worship. It shows the high spirit
of the people who go out of their way to celebrate the festival in the
prescribed manner and in a grand fashion.
Children
eagerly wait for the arrival of the carnival as it is time for them to get new
clothes, toys and everything else they asked for or thought of. Numerous
uncles, aunts and grandmas grace their wishes with delight. It is also a time
for homecoming for people staying away from the families. Their arrival multiplies
the joy of the festival.
The beauty of the festival lies in its
secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the
festival with equal joy and verve. The government of India too celebrates Onam as
the National Festival of Kerala.
Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of
peace and brotherhood by way of various team sports. Cultural programmes and
social gatherings are organised by various cultural societies all over the
state. Among the spectacle elephants adorned with gold plates on their forehead
with umbrellas on top can be seen as well as women who dress in their
traditional gold bordered off-white mundu and neriyathu to perform very elegant
folk dances.
Onam
is certainly a passion for the people of Kerala. There are set rituals for each
day and the traditional people of Kerala dutifully follow them. Of all these days the first day Atham and the tenth day Thiruvonam are the most significant ones. The mood of the
people is upbeat all through the carnival and the high spirited people of
Kerala are ever ready to indulge in merriment.
Onam Day One ATHAM
Atham is the first day of festivities and
is regarded as holy and auspicious by the traditional people of Kerala. To
complete the rituals of Atham people take early baths and offer prayers. There
is a set breakfast for Atham consisting of steamed bananas and fried pappadam.
This breakfast remains the same till the tenth and the last day. A swing decked
with flowers is also slung from a high branch and youngsters take great delight
in swinging and singing Onam songs.
The major highlight of Atham is that people
start making pookalam from this day. This is an intricate floral mat laid in
the front courtyard of the house to welcome King Mahabali. In subsequent days
more flowers and new designs are added requiring a great deal of thought and
creativity. As a result the Pookalam increases in diameter each day.
Onam Day Two CHITHIRA
There are no marked rituals for this day
but people offer their prayers to evoke divine blessings. Planning and intense
discussions for the big day of Onam begins from this day and long shopping lists
prepared.
Onam Day Three CHODHI
There are no set rituals for Chothi. This day
is marked by buzz and lot of activities as frenzied shopping for new clothes
and accessories takes place. Gifts are procured for everyone in the house
including servants.
Onam Day Four VISAKAM
Brisk activities in the market and
households can be witnessed on the day of Visakam. Women who are to prepare the
elaborate meal of Onasadya on the last day start making the various types of
pickles and pappadams (papad) besides various other things.
Onam Day Five ANIZHAM
The high point of the day is the grand
Snake Boat Race that happens on the banks of the River Pamba providing a very colourful
spectacle. Within the homes women become extremely busy making preparations for
Thiru Onam and a general atmosphere of excitement prevails across Kerala.
Onam Day Six THRIKETA
There are no set rituals marked for the day
of Triketta. It marks the time for home coming for people staying away from
their families for various reasons; Onam is the time for family get together
and nobody likes to be away from family and dear ones.
Onam Day Seven MOOLAM
With just two days left for the festival there
is hustle and bustle everywhere as people do their last bits of shopping. There
is a spirit of joy and happiness as the year long wait is soon to be over and
there will be celebrations all around.
Onam Day Eight POORADAM
The day holds significance in Onam
festivities as devotees create clay idols in the shape of small pyramids each
decorated with flowers. As well as last minute shopping, massive house cleaning
starts as people ensure that everything looks neat and tidy for when the King
arrives. People also visit friends and relatives and exchange warm greetings of
the festive occasion.
Onam Day Nine UTHRADAM
On the penultimate day of Onam there is
jubilation as people prepare to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali. Houses are
cleaned up on this day and people get charged up to participate in the events
to take place on the following day. The Pookalam is given a nice design with
new and special flowers on this day.
Onam Day Ten THIRUVONAM
People believe that it is on this day that
the spirit of legendary King Mahabali visits the state of Kerala so the state reverberates
to the chants of Onaashmsakal, "To everyone, Onam Wishes". Activities
begin early in the morning. People clean their house, take early baths, wear
new clothes and participate in special prayers.
At noon the grand feast of Onam called Onam
Sadya is prepared. The strictly vegetarian meal consists of 11 - 13 mandatory
dishes served on a banana leaf. The meal is served in a creative way as people
of Kerala have set rules of placing the different coloured food at a specific place
on the banana leaf. People sit in rows on a mat laid on the floor to have the strictly
vegetarian meal. The eldest member of the family presents gifts and new clothes
to the family members.
Various cultural events are organised all
over the state to mark the day. Dances, games, shows and get together are the
other highlights of the day. Fire crackers are also burnt to celebrate the
occasion.
Edited with thanks to the Society for the Confluence of Festivals in India.
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