The festival of Onam is a very popular event celebrated in Kerala, India. This week-long festival is celebrated every year in Kerala and the ten-day festival is the only time you will find the people of the state in high spirits, full of vigor, good cheer, love, and brotherhood. During Onam 2024, this folk festival with its grandeur will be attended by many people as soon as it starts on September 5 up to the time of sacrifice which is September 15, with the main day of the festival being Thiruvonam.
When is Onam 2024?
The Onam Festival, usually a ten-day one, starts in the Malayalam month of Chingam which falls in the Gregorian calendar (August-September). In 2024, it will begin on Thursday, September 5, and Thiruvonam, the most important day, will be celebrated on Sunday, September 15. The Thiruvonam Nakshathram, according to the Drik Panchang, will begin on the 14th of September at 02:44 PM and the end time will be 11:54 AM, on the 15th of September, 2024 as given by the Drik Panchang.
The Legend and History of Onam
The festival of Onam was started based on the story of King Mahabali, who is also referred to as Maveli, which is deeply embedded in Hindu mythology. Maveli was an able, honest, and equal ruler of Kerala. His tenure was marked by prosperity, jubilance, and equality, but his renown brought him enemies among the gods who envied him. They entreated Lord Vishnu to cut Mahabali’s power.
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Significance of Onam
Onam is not only a harvest festival, but it is also a sign of the annual King Mahabali’s visit to Kerala. The festival is the symbol of the time when the kingdom was prosperous and the people were happy with Mahabali’s rule. It is the rejoicing of the Malayali culture, traditions, and the spirit of unity and equality.
How Onam Celebrated?
Onam is celebrated with grand festivities that span ten days, each day having its unique rituals and significance. The ten days of Onam are:
- Atham: The first day, marked by the preparation of the Pookalam (floral decoration) and the beginning of the festivities.
- Chithira: More flowers are added to the Pookalam, and homes are cleaned.
- Chodi: New clothes and gifts are purchased.
- Vishakam: The preparations for the grand feast, Onam Sadhya, begin.
- Anizham: The famous Vallamkali (boat race) is held.
- Thriketta: Families gather, and the Pookalam is further decorated.
- Moolam: Small-scale Onam Sadhya begins in some households.
- Pooradam: The idols of King Mahabali and Vamana are placed in the Pookalam.
- Uthradom: Considered an auspicious day, it is believed that King Mahabali arrives in Kerala.
- Thiruvonam: The final and most important day, marked by the grand Onam Sadhya, cultural programs, and various traditional games.
Onam Sadhya is the highlight of the celebrations, a grand vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. It typically includes over 26 dishes, such as rice, sambar, avial, thoran, and payasam, among others.
The celebrations also include various cultural activities like Vallamkali (snake boat races), Pulikali (tiger dance), and Onakalikal (traditional games), all contributing to the communal joy and spirit of Onam.
Feast of Onam, which is so much a reflection of the multicultural legacy of Kerala, is one of the festivals that helps the Malayalis to unite and thus get beyond the barriers of being of the same cast and creed and enjoy their common history and traditions. The festival is not simply a tribute to the greatest king of the region, it also is a vehicle for the legacy of simple living, patience, fairness, philanthropy, and fraternity.
I’m Jagpreet, an engineer and web developer with a passion for sharing insights on lifestyle. Through my website, I write articles and share news that inspire, inform, and help readers improve their everyday lives.
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