Significance of Onam

Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is the state festival of Kerala celebrated by the people of Kerala, India. The festival commemorates the Vamana avatar of Vishnu. The festival is marked by various festivities, including intricate flower carpets, elaborate banquet lunches, snake boat races, Onappottan, Kaazhchakkula in Guruvayoor, Puli Kali, Kaikottikkali etc. These festivities make Onam a unique festival on the earth which is embellished by most number of cultural elements and it can be undoubtedly said that these elements constitute the colorfulness, diversity and richness that no other festival can claim.

The word Onam or Thiruvonam is derived from the Sanskrit word Shravanam. Thiruonam is one among the 27 nakshatras or constellations. The word ‘Thiru’ is used to address places and activities associated with Lord Vishnu. Thiruvonam is also believed to be the nakshatra of Vishnu. Onam is celebrated at the beginning of Chingam, the first month of Kollavarsham of the Malayalam calendar. This corresponds with August-September according to the Gregorian calendar. It is believed that Onam celebrations started during the Sangam era.

Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall on the Malayalam month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). During the harvest season, fields look brilliant and glow with golden paddy grains. It is also boom time for fruits and flowers. After Karkidakam, the month of deprivation, farmers are happy with a bountiful harvest and celebrate the festival to the hilt. Onam festival continues for ten days, starting from the day of Atham and culminating on Thiruonam. Atham is decided by the position of stars and is regarded as auspicious.

The people of Kerala believe that on the Thiruonam day King Mahabali visits his subjects and hence the day is marked by feasting and festivities. To welcome their revered King, people lay flower mats (Pookalam) and prepare a grand feast (Onasadya). It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes and served on banana leaves. In traditional large families called Tharawads, the Karanavar or the eldest member gives Onapudava or new clothes as gifts to all family members including servants. Other members of the family exchange gifts among each other.

Another feature of Onam is Vallamkali or the snake boat race. A large number of big and decorated boats called Chundan Vallams participate with hundreds of oarsmen for the race. The long boats embellished with festoons and silk umbrellas present a charming spectacle in the backwaters of Punnamada near Alappuzha. The rhythmic rise and fall of the oars as oarsmen row in unison and the songs and music of the drum is an eye-catching spectacle. The annual boat race on the day of Uthrittathi at Aranmula in Pathanamthitta district and the Vallasadhya or the feast for the participants is a significant event.

A procession of decorated elephants is carried out in Trissur, the cultural capital of Kerala. Bejeweled elephants in their full majesty and grandeur are a magnificent sight to behold.

Onam not only keeps alive memories of a bygone era of peace and prosperity but brings families scattered in distant places to an annual get-together reinforcing the strong family bonds.