Overview of Onam Festival Celebrations
The Onam Festival is the biggest festival of the year in India’s southern state of Kerala. Much of the state’s culture is showcased during Onam festivities. These Kerala Onam pictures reveal the color and splendor of the celebrations.
The Start of Onam
Celebrations start with the Thripunithura Athachamayam festival on Atham (10 days before Onam) in Thripunithura, near Ernakulam in Kochi. In earlier times, the festival was celebrated in commemoration of the King of Kochi. He marched from Tripunithura to the Vamanamoorthy Temple in Thrikkakara (also known as Thrikkakara Temple). Although the era of royalty has ended, the festival is still celebrated with all its glory to mark the beginning of Onam. It includes a street parade with floats, musicians, and various traditional Kerala art forms such as theyyam.
Performing Drummers
Enthusiastic drummers perform during Onam celebrations. Traditional drumming is an integral part of festivals in Kerala.
Selling Flowers
Flowers are for sale at the street market on the eve of the Onam festival. These flowers will be used to make pookalams (floral carpets).
Making a Pookalam
Decorative pookalams are a highlight of Onam festival celebrations and the most prominent ritual. The making of pookalams traditionally starts on Atham, with a new ring of flowers added each day leading up to the main day of Onam. Contests for creating the best pookalams are also held across Kerala during this festive time.
Decorating the Entrance to Homes
The Onam pookalams are placed at the entrance to homes to welcome the mythical Onam King Mahabali and seek his blessings for prosperity.
Lighting Lamps
Lamps are also lit to invite King Mahabali into homes. A lamp is typically placed at the center of every pookalam.
Thiruvathira Kali Dance
Thiruvathira Kali is a popular folk dance performed by women during Onam. They clap and synchronize their hand movements while gracefully moving in circles and singing. According to legend, Thiruvathira Kali brought the deity of love, Kamadeva, back to life after Lord Shiva reduced him to ashes. Others suggest it commemorates Lord Shiva taking Goddess Parvati as his wife.
Playing on Swings
Swings, decorated in flowers, are also an integral part of the Onam festival, particularly in rural areas. Kerala Tourism sets up hundreds of swings around Trivandrum for the public to utilize. The play on swings is known as oonjalattam.
Onasadya Feast
Onasadya is the grand feast served during Onam celebrations in Kerala. Prepared on the main day of Onam, it is beautifully arranged on a banana leaf. This feast is elaborate in nature, consisting of various vegetarian dishes. A typical Onasadya feast features 11 to 13 different dishes, all consumed in a particular order.
Onam Snake Boat Races
The most famous snake boat race held during Onam celebrations is the Aranmula carnival, which takes place along the Pampa River.
Pulikali Tiger Dance
Another Onam tradition involves men dressing up as tigers. This ancient tradition, known as Pulikali, meaning “tiger play” or “tiger dance,” requires a long dressing-up process, where men have their bodies shaved before the first coat of paint is applied. A second coat is applied after several hours, followed by an energetic performance mimicking a tiger.
Kummatti Folk Dance
During the Onam festival, masked artists go from house to house performing the Kummatti folk dance to the rhythm of drums. They also dance on the streets in various districts while wearing costumes made from grass and wooden masks representing popular deities such as Krishna, Hanuman, and Ganesh.
Shinkari Melam Classical Music Performance
Shinkari Melam represents a classical music performance utilizing traditional instruments in Kerala. Musicians perform with cymbals and the chenda, a cylindrical percussion instrument widely used in South Indian states. The chenda accompanies various religious art forms and dance rituals, including the vibrant Pulikali tiger play.
