Onam – Kerala’s best remembered festival
The word ‘Onam’ itself brings up great memories for people in Kerala and Malayalis worldwide. Wherever they are, most expat families will try and get to their homeland to celebrate this wonderful festival with their folks.
Onam is a harvest festival that falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug-Sept). It is in remembrance of the prosperous King Mahabali. This 10-day festival is unique and meaningful. As a Hindu festival, it has a lot of rituals, customs, and best of all lots of dances and games. Thiruvathirakali is the most awaited dance-t is performed by young women around a lighted lamp.
Pulikali is a tiger dance, where man dance to the tunes of instruments. Their bodies and faces are painted like a tiger’s and the dance tells of stories about tiger-hunting. Thumbi thullal and Kummatikali are other ritualistic art forms performed. Each family makes a pookalam (floral carpet) in fron of their houses on each day of the festival.
If you happen to visit the state during Onam, do not forget to attend it with a Malayali family. Don’t miss the famous Sadya: It is a full-course meal eaten from a banana leaf, seated on the floor! The family gets together to have this meal which consists of rice, various curries, vegetables and puddings and payasams in the end.
People buy new clothes, visit temples and attend the rituals without fail. Nowadays, it is also celebrated by non-Hindus, too. Crackers are a favourite for the season. Children and the old alike celebrate Onam with great pomp and vigour.
