Onam is one of the most awaited festivals of south Indians. They wait for the whole year just to rejoice at their festival. Apart from being the harvest festival, Onam is celebrated to welcome the legendary demon king Mahabali, who is more popularly known as Maaveli. Believed to be one of the greatest kings to have ruled Kerala, it is said that such was his attachment to his subjects that every year he makes a fabled visit to his kingdom to see his citizens.
The 10-days in Onam are like:
Atham:
Celebrations commence from the first day, Atham. People take an early bath on the day and offer prayers in the local temple. Making of Pookkallam or the flower carpet starts from this day. Attha Poo is prepared in the front courtyard by girls of the house to welcome the spirit of King Mahabali in whose honor Onam is celebrated. In the following days, more flowers are added to Pookalam. As a result, Pookalam turns out to be of massive size on the final day.
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Chithira:
On the principle of common custom in India that is the cleaning of homes with the onset of festivals is followed herein. The folks in Kerala also undertake this task of sprucing up their homes on the second day of Onam. The second layer of flowers makes its way to the Pookalam.
Chodhi:
The third day is called Chodhi. This day witnesses a number of activities. The markets get overcrowded, as people get engrossed with the task of buying new attire, accessories and various items of decoration for the household. On this day, multiple layers of flowers are added to the Pookalam, which makes it significantly larger in appearance.
Vishakam:
Considered to one of the most auspicious days of the festival, this is the day when preparation for the Onasadhya, or the Onam feast, is stimulated. The beauty of the custom is that every member of the family has to make some contribution to the preparations, no matter how small it is. Though the traditional spread is a nine-course meal laden with 26 different mouth-watering delicacies.
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Anizham:
A grand Snake Boat Race event called Vallamkali takes place on the fifth day of the Onam. It brings together different teams from across the state, who battle it out with their snake boats and synchronous rowing skills. The competition takes place on the banks of the river Pamba at Aranmulla.
Thriketa:
By the sixth day, which is known as Thriketa, people who have migrated to other places start visiting their homes to celebrate the Onam festivity along with their family members. By then, the Pookalam is bedecked with more than five or six layers of different flowers.
Moolam:
The festivities now shift into higher gear with many native dance performances paving the way for processions. One of these includes the Puli Kali or Kaduva Kali – where artists act like tigers, goats and hunters and dance to the beats of local percussion instruments. With the artists’ bodies painted like the animals, the performance is quite amazing and entertaining to watch.
Pooradam:
The eighth day of Onam sees the entry of small statues of Maaveli and Vamana (an incarnation of Hindu God Vishnu) that are taken around one’s homes and finally kept in the center of the Pookalam. It is believed that only after the statues are placed does the invitation stands open for Maaveli to visit the homes of people. The statue of Maaveli is called Onathappan from this day. One will now find the Pookalams to start having a larger spread that is designed in more intricate manners.
Utradam:
The eve of Onam sends families flocking to markets for purchasing fresh vegetables and other provisions that they’ll need to prepare the grand sadhya on the final day of the festival. According to commonly believed lore, Maaveli will spend the next four days visiting his former kingdom and blessing his people.
Thiru Onam:
The final day of Onam or Thiruvonam is when the festivities come to a culmination – but not before the sumptuous feasts have been devoured and a fabulous display of fireworks. Starting with an early bath and donning new clothes, the much-awaited Onasadhya is a result of a collaborative effort by both men and women in the family. On this day, every person eats food served on a plantain leaf laid on the floor.
This year, the Onam week has already commenced with Atham falling on August 18 and Thiruvonam on August 27, according to the Malayalam calendar.
