Onam

Event Date

Blessed with fine weather and marked by the beginning of the harvest season, Onam the most popular festival of Kerala is an occasion for sports and merrymaking. The ten-day Onam festival occurs in the first month of the Malayalam calendar Chingam and is observed from the Atham asterism to Thiruvonam.

A blend of myth and reality, Onam is part of the collective cultural consciousness of the Malayalee. It brings back nostalgic memories, on the wings of folkfore, of a bygone era of prosperity, equality and righteousness, under the golden reign of the King Mahabali. Year after year for centuries, the people of Kerala, irrespective of caste, creed or colour, have joined together to celebrate the yearly visit of their banished king.

Onam is also a ten-day holiday period for schools and colleges in Kerala. During these days children prepare the floral design called Pookkalam in front of their houses to welcome Onathappan (an affectionate name for Maveli or Mahabali). The tenth day or Thiruvonam is the most important day. On this day all members of the family gather together, usually at the ancestral home, for Sadya (traditional feast) served on plantain leaves. The significance of the Ona Sadya or Onam feast is established from the popular Malayalam saying " kanam vittum onam unnanam"- "The Onam feast should be prepared even if one has to sell all of one's material belongings."

Women and children engage in folk games, songs and dances after the Sadya. Oonjalattom (soaring high on the swing, usually tied on large trees in the courtyard), Thumbithullal - a traditional folk dance, Kaikottikkali or Thiruvathirakali etc form the highlights. Kaikottikkali is a dance performed by women as well as children with charm and feminine grace around a nilavilakku, in the courtyard of the family homestead accompanied by clapping and singing. All these form part of the celebrations in each family. During Onam most of the relatives come home to their tharavadu - or ancestral house.

Onam is also time for snake boat races, backwater carnivals. The pomp and pageantry of Onam reflects Kerala's zest for the beautiful things of life.