Onam is an annual harvest and Hindu cultural festival celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala. It is traditionally associated with the legend of the benevolent Asura King Mahabali, who once ruled Kerala, returning each year to visit his people. A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival of the state and includes a spectrum of cultural events. In 1961, during the tenure of Chief Minister Pattom Thanu Pillai, Onam was officially declared the national festival of Kerala. The celebrations fall in the month of Chingam (August–September), the first month of the Malayalam Calendar, are spread over ten days, and conclude with Thiruvonam.
Season
August–September (Chingam)
Type
Hindu harvest / cultural festival
Duration
10 days (Atham to Thiruvonam)
Observed by
Malayalis
Highlights
Pookkalam, Onam Sadya, Vallamkali, Pulikali, Athachamayam
Key temple
Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, Kochi
Hindu mythology
Onam commemorates the return of the generous daitya king Mahabali after he was banished to the netherworld by Vamana, the fifth avatar of Vishnu. According to Hindu legends, after Indra (king of the devas) was defeated by Mahabali (king of the asuras), Vishnu incarnated as a dwarf priest called Vamana. Mahabali conducted ritual prayers, at which Vamana requested only three feet of land. Vamana grew to enormous size and in three strides encompassed all of the universe. The three worlds were restored to Indra and Mahabali was banished to the netherworld — but witnessing Mahabali’s love for his subjects, Vamana granted the king’s sole wish to visit his kingdom once every year. This homecoming of Mahabali is celebrated as Onam.
History
The festival has ancient origins intricately linked with Hindu mythology. The earliest known reference to Onam as a celebration is found in Maturaikkanci, a Sangam-era Tamil poem from the 3rd century CE, mentioning a festival celebrated in dedication to Mayon (Vishnu) in Madurai. An 11th-century inscription in the Thrikkakara Temple (Kochi) dedicated to Vamana mentions offerings made on Thiru Onam. A 12th-century inscription in the Tiruvalla Temple mentions donations made as an Onam festival offering. A 16th-century European memoir describes Onam being celebrated in September with flowers and cow-dung adorned homes. According to scholars, Onam has historically been a Hindu temple-based community festival celebrated over many days.
The ten days
The ten days of Onam are sequentially known as Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketa, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam, and Thiruvonam. The first and the last day are particularly important. The Atham day is marked with the start of festivities at Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy Temple, Kochi — considered the focal centre of Onam and the abode of Mahabali — with the raising of the festival flag.
Athachamayam
Onam celebrations across the state start with a grand procession at Thrippunithura near Kochi called Athachamayam. The parade features decorated elephants, drum beats and other music, folk art forms, floats, and colourfully dressed people with masks. In Kerala’s history, the Kochi king used to head a grand military procession from his palace to the Thrikkakara temple. The procession path historically runs from Tripunithura to the Vamanamoorthy Temple in Thrikkakara, Ernakulam district.
Pookkalam
Onapookkalam or Athapookkalam is a flower carpet, generally circular, made out of gathered blossoms. Several varieties of flowers of differing tints are pinched into little pieces to create patterns on the floor, particularly at entrances and temple premises. The traditional ritual starts on Atham day with a small design using only yellow flowers; the size grows progressively each day. Statues or figurines of Mahabali and Vamana are installed at the entrance of houses. All over Kerala, Pookkalam competitions are a common sight on Onam day.
Music & dance
Traditional dance forms performed during Onam include Thiruvathira Kali (a women’s dance performed in a circle around a lamp), Kummattikali (a colourful-mask dance), Pulikali (tiger dance with performers painted in bright yellow, red and black), Thumbi Thullal, and Onam Kali. Kathakali performances are also part of Onam tradition. At the Thrikkakara temple, every day of the festival showcases activities including Kathakali, Thiruvathira, Chakyar Koothu, Ottam Thullal, Patakam, Onam songs, and percussion instrument shows.
Vallamkali (boat race)
The Vallamkali (snake boat race) is synonymous with Onam. Well-known races include the Aranmula Uthrattadhi Boat Race and the Nehru Trophy Boat Race. Numerous oarsmen row huge snake-shaped boats on the Pampa River, considered sacred. As a tribute to the traditional snake boat race, a similar race is also held by the Malayali diaspora in Singapore annually during Onam at Jurong Lake.
Onam Sadya
The Onam sadya (feast) is an indispensable part of Onam. The feast is served on plantain leaves and consists of nine courses but may include over two dozen dishes — chips, sharkaraveratti, pappadam, injipuli, thoran, mezhukkupuratti, kaalan, olan, avial, sambhar, dal with ghee, erisheri, rasam, puliseri, kichadi and pachadi, buttermilk, pickles, coconut chutney, and payasam for dessert. The importance of the feast is captured in the Malayalam proverb “Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam” — one must have the Onam lunch even by selling one’s property if need be.
Other customs
People buy and wear new clothes (Onakkodi) for Onam. Keralite Hindus install an image of Thrikkakara Appan or Onatthappan (Vishnu as Vamana) in their homes. Lamps are lit in temples and a palmyra tree erected in front of temples is burned to ashes, signifying Mahabali’s descent to Patala. Swings are another integral part of Onam, especially in rural areas, where young men and women sing Onappaatt (Onam songs). The weaving and pottery industries see excess production during the season, especially in Kannur and Kasaragod, and handloom fairs are an integral part of festivities.
Significance
Onam is an ancient Hindu festival of Kerala celebrating the rice harvest. Christians and Malayali Muslims also celebrate Onam, and it has developed into a cultural celebration uniting people of all faiths, representing harmony, prosperity, and the harvest. The festival has expanded beyond geographical borders in recent years with participation from other South Indian communities. Most cities in Kerala — Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Thrissur — are lit up with lights and fireworks. Onam is also celebrated by the worldwide Malayali diaspora in Oman, Malaysia, the UAE, Singapore, the UK, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and France.
