Why Onam Is the Grandest Spectacle in Kerala

One of the primary festivals of Kerala, Onam is a 10-day celebration of the end of monsoon, a rich and healthy harvest, as well as the return of King Mahabali to his ancient kingdom. A time for family get-togethers, prayers, feasts, songs and traditional dances, Onam or Thiruvonam shows off Kerala at its cultural best. Celebrated in September every year, it can be a great time to visit the state whose beauty has earned it the epithet of being God’s Own Country.

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The Onam Legend

While in many ways Onam is a harvest festival, it is also a celebration of the greatness of King Mahabali and his return to his earthly abode.  Legend has it that Mahabali was a demon king during whose reign the kingdom of Kerala flourished. However, his power and success forced the gods to bring about his downfall although he was granted one boon – the ability to return once each year to see for himself the flourishing cities of his realm. Onam is said to be the time when Mahabali’s spirit visits his kingdom and each house during this time is cleaned and decorated to welcome their legendary monarch.

A Time for Celebration

Typically, Onam celebrations last for 10 days of which the first (Atham) and the last (Thiruvonam) are the most important. During these days, people living away return home to be with their families, work is kept to a strict minimum and most of the time is spent in prayers, feasting, dances and celebratory processions. A beautiful aspect of Onam is the lovely pookalams or rangolis made with fresh flowers. These are designed and created by young girls and women in each household, who start making the pookalams in their courtyards from the first day of the festival and keep adding to it with each passing day till their design culminates in to a magnificent carpet of flowers, strewn in the courtyard to welcome their king. Women also make traditional rangolis out of colourful rice paste. It is also customary for women and girls to dance around brass diyas performing beautiful native dances such as the Kumattikali, Pullikali, Thumbi Thullal and Kaikotikali. A traditional breakfast menu of steamed bananas and fried poppadums is enjoyed each day. The Thiruvonam feast is of great importance and a must-have for all Keralites; it consists of a variety of curries and delicacies besides the well-known avial, sambar and rasam and of course, the sweet rice pudding called payasam.

Other Onam Festivities

There are several special occasions and events which are also a part of the grand Onam celebrations. Among the most popular and rigorous of these being the Snake Boat races also known as the Vallamkali. They are particularly popular on the Pampa River, presenting a marvelous spectacle with long, elegantly carved boats being vigorously rowed by as many as 100 oarsmen in a bid to win the races. Elsewhere, there are a variety of fun competitions such as pookalam and rangoli making competitions, dance competitions, and food-eating competitions, besides spectacular displays of fireworks and merry processions.

Another delightful aspect of the celebrations are the beautiful dances such as Kathakali and Pullikali. The latter is a masked dance particularly popular in towns such as Thissur where dancers dressed as magnificent tigers take to the streets to perform their elegant dance.  The Pullikali also marks the end of the Onam celebrations.

Want to be a part of this rich cultural heritage? Pack your bags now!