Onam, the harvest festival of Kerala, is the most colourful and popular festival. Keralites all over the world celebrate with great pomp and show. The festival of Onam is celebrated each year during the month of August-September which is the first month of the year called Chingam, as per the Malayalam calendar. The celebrations of the Onam last for a period of ten days during which people irrespective of their age and gender participate with equal enthusiasm.

The word Onam is said to have originated from the Sanskrit word “Shravanam” which in Sanskrit refers to one of the 27 Nakshatras or constellations. “Thiru” in Tamil is the equivalent to “Shri” in Sanskrit and is used for anything associated with Lord Vishnu and Thiruvonam is believed to be the Nakshatra of Lord Vishnu who pushed the great King Mahabali to the underworld with his foot.

Celebrations and Rituals

The beauty of Onam is its secular nature. People across all religions and communities rejoice during the festival with equal happiness and spirit.

The rich ethnic culture of Kerala is fully brought out during the ten-day festival. The integral feature of Onam is the grand feast popularly known as “Onasadya”, specially prepared on this day. It is a meal of nine-course consisting of 11 to 13 important dishes.

The beginning of Onam is on the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam, with ‘Atham’. It is believed that King Mahabali, who was pushed to the pathal (underground) starts preparing for his journey to come on the ground of Kerala. The beginning of the festival is marked with a grand procession of elephants, accompanied by dance and music at Thrippunithura near Kochi. This event is called ‘Athachamyam’. During this day, people beautify their households with “Pookalam”. The Second day of the celebration is called ‘Chithira’. On this day people start the activity of cleaning the utensils for preparing the grand feast for the last day of Onam. The 3^rd day celebration of Onam is called as ‘Chodi’. This day is marked by people buying new clothes and jewelleries. On the Fourth day, ‘Vishakam’, the sale of the crops start. The fifth day of Onam known as ‘Anizham’, is very important. On this day ‘Vallam Kali’ the snake boat race starts and it is the main attraction of this festival. From the Sixth day, ‘Thriketa’ official holiday begins. On the seventh day, known as ‘Moolam’, Puli Kali (masked leopard dance) and other ethnic dance forms are performed. This day is a day of Fireworks. ‘Pooradam’ is the eighth day of Onam and on this day Pookalam is made very big in size and the idols of King Mahabali and Vamana are washed. Ninth day is ‘Uthradom’, is well-known as the eve of celebration. It is considered the most favourable day to buy fruits and vegetables. ‘Thiruonam’ is the tenth and last day of the Onam. It is said that, on this day King Mahabali comes to Kerala to visit his land and to bless his people. Hence this is considered as the most revered day of Onam festival.

5 things you need to know about harvest festival in Kerala

1.The Great kind king mahabali

According to the mythology, Lord Vishnu decided to test the generous nature of King Mahabali. He appeared before King Mahabali as a poor Brahmin child called ‘Vamana’ and sought from him some land. When King Mahabali agreed to this and asked Vamana how much he wanted, Vamana said that he wanted land that could be covered by his three footsteps. The generous king agreed to give the land and asked him to take the land from wherever he wants. Vamana, then took  Vishwaroopa, and covered the entire earth by one foot and the heaven by the other. When e asked the king where he could keep his third step, King Mahabali gladly offered his head to place his third foot to the extraordinary child. This won him the goodwill of Lord Vishnu, who gave him the kingdom of Patala and the blessing to visit his kingdom of Kerala once in a year to see his people. After this event, people started celebrating the festival of ‘Onam’ to welcome King Mahabali at their place.

2. Food (Onasadya)

The mention of Onam brings in the sight of the banana leaf filled with hot pipping dishes. Around 11 to 13 important dishes are prepared on this occasion and are served on the green leaf with brown rice and papadum (papad). Sambha, Avial, Parippucurry, Rasam are some of the other popular ones. Sweets comprise Payasam (kheer). The lunch is nothing less than a grand feast.

3. The traditional mundu Veshti and kasavu saree

Onam is incomplete without “Onakkodi”, the new dresses bought for the festival. Men wear mundu (white dhoti with golden or a colorful border) and women in set saree or kasav saree (white saree with golden border).

4. Pookolam

Pookalam is a flowery decoration made in various designs during the ten days of the festival. It is comparable to rangoli, only that the colour powders are replaced with flowers of different colours. People decorate the front or inside of their houses with this.

5. Celebrations

There are lot many dance forms that are specific to Kerala, performed on this day. Tiger Dance and Kaikottikali are some of the famous one. Boat races (Vallamkali) are also a part of the great celebrations. The snake boat race is an event that is synonymous with Onam. About 1000 oarsmen row giant snake boats while singing songs. The sight is totally captivating.

The festival of Onam, an integral part the life of all keralites helps in creating an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood.