Onam: The many ways Keralam celebrates
Beyond the popular Onam narrative, featuring the Mahabali, pookkalam and sadya, the festival is celebrated in uniquely diverse ways across Keralam
Onam, a festival celebrated in the Malayalam calendar year of Chingam, spans ten days and is marked by the arrival of King Mahabali. This festival is rich in tradition and varies across regions of Kerala. In Palakkad, for instance, pookkalam (decorative floral carpets) are made as early as the preceding month of Karkkadakam.
Girija Varier, a retired teacher from Palakkad, explains that they continue to build and remove these pookkalam figures until the 16th day of Kanni, the day believed to be Onam for the farming community. On Thiruvonam day, the final day, a bigger figure representing Mahabali is placed. In some households, they also celebrate Ayilyam Unnikal, a smaller figure representing Lord Siva, marking the end of their festivities.
Historian Vellanad Ramachandran notes that in certain parts of central Travancore, Onam is celebrated with specific rituals associated with the four main days of the festival. Uthradam day is dedicated to Onathamma, representing King Mahabali's wife, who visits every household to ensure preparations for Thiruvonam. Moonnaam Onam, or Ammayi Onam, sees the wife visiting her mother-in-law and taking new clothes and tobacco.
Chathayam day, or Nathoon Onam, is for the wife to visit her husband's sister with dishes and gifts, and the house is lit with traditional lamps.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
