Kerala is celebrating its biggest harvest festival Thiru Onam. Celebrations started in Kerala with Onam Pookkalam, which is the floral carpet laid on the floors in the early morning. This Onam Pookkalam (floral carpet) is made to welcome legendary King Mahabali.Thousands of cultural programmes are also being organised in every districts of Kerala. Onam is not just a festival of ecstasy, but it is a memory bank for Keralites.
President Pranab Mukherjee said, Onam is a unique secular festival celebrated by the people of Kerala belonging to all communities, irrespective of caste, creed and economic standing.
The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingami.e. between Aug – Sep and marks the commemoration of Vamana avatara of Vishnu and the subsequent homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. The King is so much attached to his kingdom that it is believed that he comes annually from the nether world to see his people living happily. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. The deity Vamana, also called Onatthappan, is also revered during this time by installing a clay figure next to the floral carpet (Pookalam) .
What is Chingam?
It is the first month according to the Malayalam Calendar.
Onam is celebrated for 10 days:
- Atham: It is believed that King Mahabali starts his preparations to descend from Pathala to Kerala on this day.
- Chithira: On this day, people start cleaning the household to prepare for the Thiruvonam day.
- Chodhi:The day also marks the start of shopping activities.
- Vishakam: Vishakam marks the start of many Onam-related competitions like Pookalam competitions etc.
- Anizham: Anizham is one of the most important day in the Onam days as it kicks off the great Vallam Kali (Snake boat) at many parts of Kerala. A mock Vallam Kali is conducted on this day at Aranmula as a dress-rehearsal for the famed Aranmula boat race which will be held after Onam.
- Thriketa: people start packing their bags to their native homes to celebrate the festival with their dear ones.
- Moolam: the smaller versions of traditional Ona Sadya (Onam special buffet lunch) start in many places.
- Pooradam: From this day onwards, the statue will be called Onathappan. The pookkalam design from Pooradam day onwards gets much bigger and complex in design.
- Uthradom: It is considered as Onam eve and celebrated in a very big way.
- Thiruvonam: The final day of Onam that culminates the 10 days of Onam Carnival. The day is known as Thiru-Onam (Sacred Onam Day) also known as ‘Second Onam’. Myth says that this was the day Mahabali was sent to the netherworld ( Pathalam) by Vamana. The day marks the return of Mahabali to his fabled land (Kerala), as per the boon he received from Vamana to meet his subjects and bless them.
Some General Related Question:
Who’s son was Mahabali?
Which is the capital of Kerela?
