8 Things about the Onam Festival that every Indian should know ! 4

1. When is ONAM celebrated ?

The Onam Festival is celebrated for ten days every year, in the Malaylam month of Chingam, which is between end of September and the beginning of October. This year in 2015, the festivities begin from 28th August, 2015 which marks the first day of the festival known as ‘Atham’.

2. What Happens on the First Day?

A  procession called ‘Athachamyam’, of elephants along with dance and music at Thrippunithura near Kochi. People decorate their houses with ‘Pookalam‘ which is a special arrangement of flowers in front of the house.

3.Why is Onam Celebrated ?

Legend says, King Mahabali – the kind demon king of Kerala was once put to test by Lord Vishnu to check his credibility of being a charitable king. Disguised as a poor Brahmin child named Vamana, he came to Mahabali and asked him to grant him the land covered by his three footsteps. Being the large-hearted, as he was, he immediately agreed to give him the land wherever he chose to keep his foot. However, Vamana quickly grew in size and covered the entire earth by one foot and the heaven by another. Impressed by the extraordinary child, the King humbly offered his head to place the third foot. Lord Vishnu, convinced of the King’s generosity, gave him the Kingdom of Patala and his blessings to visit his Kingdom of Kerala and his people once every year. This occasion came to be celebrated as the festival of Onam – the largest festival of Kerala. As it coincides with its harvest time of the year, it is also known for being the most significant harvest festival of Kerala.

4. The Snake Boat Race

On the fifth day of the onam festival, the Vallam Kali – the snake boat race starts and is one of the central attractions of this festival.

5. The leopard Dance

From the sixth day (called Moolam), official holidays start when it’s time for Puli Kali – masked leopard dance, traditional folk dance and songs are sung and fireworks begin to lighten the sky.

6. Traditonal Dances and the Tenth Day

Finally as the tenth day of the Onam Festival ‘Thiruonam’ arrives, people dressed in their new clothes, visit the temples, offer prayers and offerings and perform the traditional dances of Thumbi Tullal and Thiruvathirakali.

7. Food !

This is then followed by the grand lunch called ‘Sadya’ – which is considered most important and essential tradition of the onam festival and every person present must be served. A variety of delicious food is served on banana leaf – a tradition of Kerala. Of these, Payasam – an absolutely delightful porridge like sweet dish is the favorite dessert served for this occasion.

8. Everybody is welcomed !

Onam is a festival that every Keralite celebrates irrespective of religion, caste and creed; not only Hindus but Christians and Muslims in Kerala, eagerly await this festival and celebrate with the same amount of enthusiasm and faith as the Hindus. And for that brief period while everyone is fighting over second helpings of Payasam, religious differences disappear as they unite to celebrate the beautiful festival of Onam.

Are you planning a trip to Kerala on the occasion of Onam festival? Let us know in comments and book your trip on Holidify !