Onam

TIME OF THE YEAR

Onam is celebrated in August or September every year by Malayalis worldwide.

CELEBRATIONS

Onam is celebrated with great joy in the home of all Malayalis in Kerala or wherever they may be in the world. Onam is a day for giving and receiving gifts of new clothes. Traditional sweets and an elaborate meal are prepared. The entrances of houses are decorated with beautiful carpets made from fresh flowers. Young women light decorative brass lamps in the center of the flower carpet and dance gracefully around it, while singing melodious traditional songs. The lunch, called Sadya, is the main event of the day, though preparations and celebrations may last up to a week.

Events such as snake boat races, and cultural programmes such as Kathakali or Mohiniattam dance performances are also held.

RITUALS

Before Onam Malayali's clean their houses and buy new clothes. Clothes are given to family members as gifts. Traditional sweets and savories are prepared and people visit each others houses to greet their loved ones and friends.

The Onam lunch or Onam Sadya is a ritual meal, when the people of Kerala celebrate their prosperity and welcome their legendary King Mahabali. The meal is eaten on the fresh green leaf of a banana plant. Rice, lentils, many different vegetables, pickle and different kinds of sweet dish are served one after the other.

Rituals associated with Onam include the exchange of gifts of new clothes, a visit to the temple to pray, and decorating the entrance of houses with colorful flower carpets to welcome the benevolent King Mahabali.

LEGENDS

According to legend, Mahabali was an Asura or Demon King, who was beloved by all his subjects because of his benevolent rule. Threatened by his popularity, the Gods requested Lord Vishnu to cut Mahabali down to size.

Lord Vishnu appeared before Mahabali in the form of Vamana, a priest. Mahabali in his generosity asked Vamana what boon he could confer on him and Vamana replied he wanted a boon of as much land as he could cover with three paces.

Lord Vishnu then appeared in his actual form and covered the Earth with one pace and the heavens and the netherworld with the second. Mahabali, recognized the Lord and offered his head as a resting place for Lord Vishnu's third footstep.

Pleased by his humility, Vishnu asked Mahabali to name a boon. Mahabali requested that he be allowed to visit his people once a year and it is his benevolence and goodness that Malayalis celebrate and remember every Onam.

REGIONAL CELEBRATIONS

Onam is celebrated all over Kerala with great joy. It is also celebrated in cities across India and the world where there is a Malayali community.

PLACES TO VISIT

Every town in Kerala celebrates Onam with cultural performances and events. Kathakali and Mohiniattam performances are held along with are events for children to celebrate Onam.

Allapuzha or Alleppey in Kerala is the venue of the annual Snake Boat races that are held here every year to celebrate Onam. This highly competitive event has become a popular tourist attraction. Teams of rowers from different villages and towns compete against each other in giant snake boats called Chundanvalloms, in an atmosphere of celebration and excitement. Women also participate in this event.

Thrissur, the venue of a grand temple is also the venue of a majestic parade of elephants. Decked in their best with gold ornaments and bearing the image of the gods, shielded by colorful parasols, the elephant procession is a very popular tourist attraction during Onam.

If you visit Kerala during the Onam festival you're sure to see Kerala at its best.