Onam
| Onam ഓണം |
|
|---|---|
Preparation for Thiruvonam day
|
|
| Official name | Malayalam: ഓണം |
| Observed by | Malayalis |
| Type | Hindu festival |
| Significance | Harvest festival |
| Observances | Sadya, Thiruvathira Kali, Puli Kali, Pookalam, Ona-thallu, Thrikkakarayappan, Onathappan, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula in Guruvayur, Athachamayam in Thrippunithura and Vallamkali (Boat race). |
| Date | Thiruvonam Nakshatra in the months of August and September |
| 2016 date | 14 September |
| 2017 date | 4 September |
| Frequency | Annual |
Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is a traditional Hindu harvest festival celebrated in the state of Kerala in India. It is also the State festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) to the 3rd Onam Day. Despite it being a traditional Hindu cultural festival, Onam is celebrated by people cutting across socio-economic and religious distinctions.
The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the commemoration of home-coming of the King Mahabali and to pray to the fifth avatar(incarnation) of lord Vishnu, known as Vamana(Dwarf, in English). In Kerala, it is the festival celebrated with most number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Pookkalam, Onathappan, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal, Kummati kali, Onathallu, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan, Atthachamayam etc. Onam is reminiscent of Kerala's agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.
Onam is an ancient festival which still survives in modern times. It is one of the rarest festivals which is celebrated by a complete State, irrespective of religion, caste and creed. Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers, which fall in the month of Chingam, celebrates the Asura King Mahabali's annual visit from Patala (the underworld). Onam is unique since Mahabali (locally known as Maveli) has been revered by the people of Kerala. 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 Thrikkakarappan is also revered during this time by installing a clay figure next to the floral carpet (Pookalam). The birthday of Sri Padmanabhan, the presiding Deity of Thiruvananthapuram, is on the Thiruvonam day in the month of Chingam. Thiruonam day is the most important day of Onam. In 2016, Thiruvonam fell on the 14th of September.
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