Onam is a Godlike pageant from God’s personal nation. It’s the time of the yr when Kerala is exhilarated with trumpets, drums, elephants, boat races, dances, artwork, music, floral decorations, lights, colors, rituals and the scrumptious Onasadya with out which the celebrations are incomplete. Whether or not you are a Malayali or not, the spirit of Onam is Common. Let’s Arpo Irro, Irro! to the pageant of togetherness. 

Onam 2021 – The Festival of Kerala

Onam is the conventional pageant of Malayalees originated from the state of Kerala. Onam is a spiritual, cultural pageant that is celebrated by the Malayali group round the world.

Onam 2021 Date

Falling on the month of Chingam in the Malayalam calendar the pageant overlaps with the months August-September on the Gregorian calendar. Onam 2021 will start on Saturday, 22 August and ends on Wednesday, 2 September. A very powerful day of Onam – Thiru Onam – can be celebrated on August 31st.

Onam 2021 Date

21 August 2021

Onam 2022 Date

22 September 2022

Historical past of Onam – The Legend and the Significance

The Mahabali legend that spins the story of OnamIn accordance to Hindu Mythology, the Brahmin sage Prahlada had a grandson named Mahabali who took over the three worlds by defeating the Gods (Devas). In Vaishnavism, the Devas approached Lord Vishnu to assist them in the battle towards Mahabali, Vishnu refused contemplating Mahabali being an excellent ruler and his devotee. Mahabali carried out a Yajna after his victory over the Gods and had to grant anybody any request. Lord Vishnu took this chance to check Mahabali’s devotion and approached Mahabali in the avatar of a dwarf boy known as Vamana.

The king supplied every part he may to the boy, however Vamana refused and mentioned one should not search multiple’s wants and all he wanted was three-paces. Mahabali, though shocked by the boy’s want, agreed to grant it. Vamana grew and lined the land and water with one foot and the sky with one other foot, now to place his third-foot Mahabali supplied himself. Vamana trampled Mahabali down to Pathala (hell) however happy by his devotion supplied him a boon to go to his land yearly. The revisit of Mahabali marks the pageant of Onam.

Onam Festival – Cultural Celebrations, Rituals and Practices

Onam is welcomed with a various vary of actions and celebrated with nice pomp and enthusiasm. The life of the pageant lies in its cultural practices with a repertoire of occasions starting from boat races, dance types, florals, vibrant artwork, meals and conventional clothes.

Attachamayam

The onset of Onam is from the procession that begins from Thripunithara in Kochi. The parade options the tradition of Kerala by way of elephant marches, drum beats, pageant flag hoisting, people artwork types, colourfully embellished floats that depict scenes in Mahabaratha and Ramayana. Traditionally, the procession path leads to the temple from Thripunithara that is devoted to Vamana the avatar of Vishnu.

Pookalam

The Onapookalam is nothing however a floral carpet that is embellished with flowers and petals. It’s full of a number of varieties of flowers forming patterns on the flooring of central entrances. Girls organized these flowers at their houses and in temple premises and embellished them with lamps on the edges or in the center. It’s a spiritual artwork that includes so much of endurance and creativity to mix the colors of petals to kind a floral artwork. Pookalam could be very comparable to Rangoli that is embellished by individuals in different components of India. There are Pookalam competitions held in all components of Kerala.

Conventional Dances

The Kathakali, a standard dance kind of Kerala, could be very fondly recognized by all. Aside from this, there are different dances reminiscent of Thiruvathira, Pulikali, Kummattikali, Thumbi Thullal, Onam Kali, that are carried out throughout Onam.

Thiruvathirakali is a well-liked dance kind carried out by girls on the day of Onam. That is accompanied by Thiruvathira Paattu that are the people songs of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The group of girls dance round the Nilavilaku (a standing lamp) exhibiting the grace of the female.

Kummattikali, on the different hand, is a dance with closely painted vibrant masks, that depicts Krishna, Narada, Darika and Kiratha. It’s most prevalent in Thrissur district of Kerala.

Onam Kali is one other kind of dance the place performers circles round a lamp and dancing to songs which depict tales from Ramayana.

Pulikali or Leopard dance is often known as Kaduvakali, is a leisure people artwork kind of Kerala. It’s carried out on the fourth Onam day the place performers paint themselves as tigers in shades of vivid yellow, purple and orange and dance to the beats of conventional devices like Chenda, Thakil and Udukku.

Vallamkali – The Well-known Boat Race

The normal snake boat race is an important occasion throughout the pageant of Onam. It consists of races of a varied sort reminiscent of paddled longboats, snake boats and conventional boats of Kerala. Vachipaatu or the boat track is sung throughout the boat race to entertain the crowd and encourage the canoers. This occasion might be witnessed on the Pampa River of Kerala.

Onasadya – The Conventional Feast

The Sadya, which means banquet in Malayalam, is a vegetarian meal that’s served on a banana leaf. There are a number of 29 dishes which are laid over the leaf with much less or extra quantity. The feast displays the spirit of Onam with some objects reminiscent of Rice, Sambar, Chips, Sharkaravaratti, Injipuli, Pappadam, Avial, Olan, Pickle, Dal, Thoran, Ghee, Rasam, Puliseri, Erisheri, Pachadi, Coconut Chutney, Moru and which ends with a candy, savoury Payasam.In sure customs, a Palmyra tree lined with dry leaves surrounded by a picket balustrade is erected in the temples. The tree is then lit with a torch that will get burned down to ashes symbolising Mahabali’s sacrifice. One other customized is the swing slung from excessive branches, which performs an integral half in the rural areas. Younger women and men sing Onapaatu and rock each other on the swings as a kind of merrymaking.

The 10 Days of Onam

Onam celebration spans over 10 days with quite a few festivities. It’s noticed by most Hindus in its pure conventional kind. The primary ten days of Onam are the most necessary which begins with Atham.

Atham (22 August 2021)

On the day of Atham, festivities start at the Vamanamoorthy Thirrikara Temple in Kochi, the place a grand procession is held known as as Athachamayam. The day marks the preparations of the go to of Mahabali to his Kingdom. That is adopted by the laying of Pookalam which is made of solely yellow petals. The Pookalam on Atham is called Athapoo which is made of just one layer that will get added on progressively as every day of Onam passes. Statues of Mahabali and Vamana are positioned on the courtyards which are dung-plastered in entrance of the home.

Chithira (23 August 2021)

On the second day of Onam, two extra layers of orange and creamy yellow flowers are added to the Pookalam. Folks clear their homes and go to temples on this present day.

Chodhi (24 August 2021)

The third day of Onam is when individuals purchase new garments in any other case known as as Onakkodi. Girls gown up in Kasavi Saree, and males buy mundu whereas younger women put on Pattu Pavada. Households buy groceries in addition to present one another jewels and garments. The third layer of flowers is added to the Pookalam as nicely.

Vishakam (25 August 2021)

Today is taken into account as the most auspicious as the Onasadya preparations begin. The lady in the household top off components from the market. Normally, markets maintain their harvest sale throughout this era making Kerala markets the busiest place. The dishes go up to 26 – 30 in several households. In spite of everything, Onasadya is all about filling the plantain leaf with dishes till there is not any area left.

Anizham (26 August 2021)

The Vallamkali or Snake boat races flag-off on the Pamba River and the Pookalam develop greater.

Thriketa (27August 2021)

Contemporary flowers are added to the Pookalam and households go to their ancestral houses and spend a while, trade items and so on.

Moolam (28 August 2021)

Most temples begin providing Onasadya on this present day. Households put together a shorter model of the Sadya. The Pulikali and Kaikottukali are carried out at varied locations in Kerala. The state begins getting vibrant and busy with celebrations.

Pooradam (29 August 2021)

The day begins with the ritual of putting in clay statues of Mahabali and Vamana generally known as Onathappam in the centre of Pookalam. They’re the illustration of Mahabali, and fixing these statues symbolises an invite to Mahabali to go to every home. By now the Pookalam is way greater and sophisticated.

Uthradam (30 August 2021)

That is thought of as the Onam even when the preparations attain its zenith. The devotees absolutely put together themselves to welcome King Mahabali the subsequent day.

Uthradam/First Onam (30 August 2021)

Today is the eve of Onam and thought of as the First Onam. It’s the most auspicious day to buy recent fruit and veggies. In accordance to conventional beliefs, Mahabali arrives in Kerala on this present day. Therefore, individuals clear their homes and do their remaining Onam procuring.

Thiruvonam Onam 2021 (31 August 2021)

The primary day of Onam pageant when individuals apply rice flour batter on the entrance of their homes as a standard welcome signal, take a bathe and gown up in new garments and likewise distribute alms to the poor and needy. That is the day King Mahabali visits every dwelling and blesses each household in Kerala. The Pookalam is accomplished completely, and the households collect to feast on the Onasadya.

Submit-Onam Celebrations

Though Thiruvonam is the principal event, the following days – Avittom (third onam) and Chatayam (fourth onam) are additionally thought of as days of Onam. Preparations for Mahabali’s departure are undertaken, and the Pookalam is cleared. The clay statues of Onathappan is immersed in the river or the sea. Some components of Kerala nonetheless organise the Vallamkali and the Pulikali.

Onam is not only a Keralite pageant; it’s celebrated throughout all states and round the world regardless of caste and creed. Celebrations are notable amongst Malayali diaspora in UAE, USA and Singapore. Properly, aside from the fights over the final ounce of Payasam, Onam is a harmonious, cheerful and exuberant pageant.