The Malayali Hindu community in Kerala, India celebrates Onam, a significant festival that heralds the beginning of the harvest season every year. In the Gregorian calendar, August through September correspond with the event, which is held during the first month of Chingam. The celebrations in 2024 will start on September 5 and end on September 17. The celebration, which includes several cultural activities and customs, honours the return of King Mahabali and the emergence of Vishnu’s Vamana avatar. Onam is a joyful, multicultural, and unifying time of year that provides a lively, thrilling experience for everyone who takes part.
Date And Time of Onam 2024
Kerala celebrates Onam traditionally during the month of Chingam, which falls between August and September on the Gregorian calendar and Bhadrapada and Ravana on the Hindu calendar. The 12-month Malayalam calendar serves as the foundation for the celebration. The Panchangam, an ancient Hindu astrological calendar, establishes the exact day. Ten days are dedicated to the celebration, with Thiruvonam being the most significant. Thiruvonam will be observed as a public holiday in 2024 and will be observed from August 20 to August 31. The event is a celebration of culture and religion.
History and Legends of Onam
- Hindus celebrate the arrival of King Mahabali from Patala with the festival of Onam. According to legend, King Mahabali was a demon who caused jealousy among the Gods because of his benevolence and generosity.
- Lord Vishnu travelled to Kerala in disguise as a lowly Brahmin and requested three feet of land. When his request was fulfilled by Mahabali, the Brahmin gradually covered the earth and sky.
- He was blessed with the opportunity to spend among his folks each year. In Hindu tradition, the 10 Days of Onam celebration is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, a devoted follower of Lord Vishnu.
- Lord Vishnu assumed the shape of Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf, and requested ownership of a land of ‘three paces’. Vamana’s desire was granted by Mahabali.
- Among the festival’s most significant days is Thiruvonam, which features synchronised performances and traditional folk dances in observance of King Mahabali’s entrance.
- An important festivity is the elephant parade, in which adorned elephants perform for onlookers and engage in dance. Among Kerala’s harvest celebrations, it is unique due to its deep-rooted mythical and legendary association.
- Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf, was Lord Vishnu’s incarnation, and all he asked for was three paces of land. He developed to conquer the three continents and sent Mahabali to the underworld.
Significance of Onam
- Onam is a harvest festival that represents the triumph of righteousness over evil, the coming back of a cherished monarch, and the resulting solidarity among people as well as the enrichment of culture.
- It represents cultural variety and togetherness by fostering a sense of fraternity and kinship among individuals. In addition, it signifies wealth and prosperity since it ushers in the agricultural harvest and the conclusion of the monsoon season.
- It honours the ties that families have to their ancestors, customs, and the blessing that the end of the rainy season brings to nature.
- The event resonates with the Malayali diaspora globally, beyond geographical borders. It acts as a cultural tie, reminding Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) of their origins and customs.
Onam Celebrations across India
Kerala celebrates Onam 2024, a major holiday, over ten days, with street parades, pookalam, puli kali, and vallamkali, among other colourful festivities. The celebration celebrates the king’s homecoming with a nine-course meal called Onam Sadya and the submersion of clay pyramids in water. Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Thrissur are among the places that have been seen.
Onam Festival Celebrations
- Kerala celebrates Onam, a colourful festival, with boat races, traditional dances, flower arrangements, and brilliant artwork. The traditional activities of the festival, such as archery, Pookkalam, Onakalikal, Vallamkali, and Pulikali, are its fundamental components.
- Serving the Onam Sadhya feast on banana leaves is a sign of equality and humility. Making floral carpets, embellishing houses, and dressing in particular attire are examples of traditional ways. Vallam Kalli, Pulikkali, Pookkalam, Onathappan, Thumbi Thullai, Onavillu, Kazchakkula, and Athachamayam are some of the sub-events that are part of the festival.
- It also has guys dressed as tigers attending plays and dances. Prepared on the most significant day of the event, the Onasadya feast consists of nine courses, such as rice, sambhar, and rasam.
Conclusion
A joyful and amicable event that unites people of all castes and creeds, it is a Keralite holiday observed worldwide. It is very significant to Malayali cultures and is a time of joy and togetherness when people from all walks of life join together to celebrate Onam 2024 and bask in the festive atmosphere.