Onam 2023 Rituals: The festival of Onam is one of the major festivals celebrated by the Malyali community with great fervour and enthusiasm. It marks the beginning of the Malayalam New Year, known as Kolla Varsham. Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam is an occasion which is celebrated annually between August and September. This year, the festivities of Onam 2023 will begin on August 20 and culminate on 31 August with the celebrations for 10 days.
Onam holds great significance in the Malayalam calendar as it signifies the bountiful harvest and also marks the beginning of the new year. The date of this festival is based on the Solar calendar and varies every year. It is usually celebrated in Chingam month on the Malayalam Solar Calendar.
Rituals Of Onam 2023
The festivities of Onam revolve around some major rituals carried out by people which include Athachamayam, Pookkalam, Pulikali, Vallamkali and Onam Sadya.
1. Athachamayam
Athachamayam is an integral ritual of Onam festivities. It marks the beginning of the Onam festival in Kerala and is an occasion where you can witness the cultural art forms of the Southern state. Also known as Thripunithura Athachamayam, during this ritual a popular parade is carried out which includes elephants, drum beats, folk dances and people dressed in vividly colourful attires.
2. Pookalam
Onam celebrations include the making of rangolis known as Onam Pookalam. The Onam Pookalam is made round in shape and filled with complex detailing of colourful flower petals. The rangoli made on the first day of Onam is known as 'Athapoo', which is made using Athapookalam flowers. Similarly, different designs of rangolis are made using a wide variety of flowers on different days of Onam.
3. Pulikali
Another ritual of Onam festivities including Pulikali is a recreational folk art of Kerala. It is usually practised on the fourth day of Onam and is also referred to as Kaduvakali. In this ritual, artists paint their bodies like tigers with stripes and dance to the drum beats.
4. Vallamkali
The festival includes a wide range of cultural events which mark the Malayalam New Year. One such event witnessed during the Onam festival is the famous Boat Race, also known as Vallamkali. Boat racing is one of the most popular cultural attractions in Kerala during the Onam festival. The breathtaking races with the wooden boats set the festivities on fire.
5. Onam Sadya
The feast of the Onam festival is known as Onam Sadya and includes vivid delicacies of the Southern state of Kerala. It is a multi-course vegetarian meal relished during the festivities of Onam, but the highlight is that it is served on a banana meal.