Deja Vu..............
Sometimes beyond Customs and the Religion festivals reflects something different.
Today is Chingam 1..... The first month of Malayalam New Year. It is also known as Karshaka Dinam (Farmer's day). After raining, spring season enters..All the plants and trees smile with flowers. Butterflies and birds spread colors of happiness in the world..Weather it seems , also seeks to be a part of the festival. It contributes by becoming pleasantly warm and sunny. Onam is also a harvest festival. Fields look brilliant with a bountiful harvest. Farmers feel on top of the world as they watch the result of their hard labour with pride...
When Chingam month starts, it is like all of us are waiting for the Onam Festival, which is celebrated on the same month. But there is a lot more to Onam than being just a festival. It is celebrated at a time when everything appears so nice and good. Actually Onam starts 10 days before the star Thiruvonam.
Pyramid shaped Earthern moulds which represents Mahabali and Vamana are placed on dung-plastered courtyards which is in front of the house. Now it is the time to prepare Onapookkalam..Fresh flowers are used to decorate around moulds like 10 rings. It is called Onapookkalam. Before the sunrise, children will go and collect the flowers from the garden and lands.
The first day there will only one flower. i.e., only one flower is put in the first series. 2nd day there will be 2 types of flowers and it is put on 1st and 2nd ring. The one type put on first day and the second type of flower. This will continue till the 10th day. So end of the 10th day, 10 types of flowers are put around mould in the 10 rings.
The deities are represented in the following order for the ten days- Lord Ganapathi, Shiva and Shakthi, Shiva, Brahma, Pancha Boothangal, Shanmugham or Muruga, Guru, Ashta Digpalakar, Indra and Lord Vishnu.
The flowers used to decorate Atthapookkalam includes - Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu(Ixora), Mukkutti (Little Tree Plant), Chemparathy (Shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana) and Hanuman Kireedom (Red Pagoda plant). But now all these flowers are hard to be found in the villages
There are 27 stars or Nakshatras (similiar to zodiac) in Sanskrit. The celebrations of Onam start on Atham star of Chingam month. This is exactly 10 days before Thiruvonam star. Traditionally all the 10 days starting from Atham has importance.
- Atham- The first day of Onam Celebrations
It is believed that King Mahabali starts his preparations to descend from hell to Kerala on this day. The size of pookalam on this day is called as 'Athapoo' and it will be small which eventually grew day after day. Only yellow flowers will be used on this day and the design will be simple. Also the statues of Mahabali and Vamanan will be installed on the entrance of each house on this day.
- Chithira- The second day
Second layer is added to pookalam with 2 different colours apart from yellow. On this day,
people starts cleaning the house-hold to prepare for the Thiruvonam day.
- Chothi- The third day
The pookalam now will start growing in its size by adding new layers with at least 4 to 5 different flowers. The day also marks the start of shopping activities. Onam is associated with gifting new clothes, hence from this day onwards people start buy new clothes and jewellery.
- Vishakam- The fourth day
Vishakam is considered to be one of the most auspicious days of Onam. In olden days, the markets open this harvest sale on this day, making one of the busiest days in the markets for public. Today Vishakam marks the start of many Onam-related competitions like Pookalam competitions etc.
Anizham- The fifth day
Anizham is one of the most important day in the Onam days as it kicks off the great (Snake boat) Vallam kali (Boat race) at many parts of Kerala.
- Thrikketta- The sixth day
By the sixth day, the public frenzy starts going on higher side. The pookalam design will be very large by this time, with at least 5 to 6 new flower types.
- Moolam- The seventh day
On the seventh day, the smaller versions of traditional Ona Sadhya (Onam special buffet lunch) starts in many places.
- Pooradam- The eighth day
The day marks off with a major traditional ritual where the small statues of Mahabali and Vamana will be washed and cleaned and taken around the house as a procession. It will be later installed in the center of the pookalam smeared with 'rice-flour batter'. The smearing is done by small children who will be 'Pooradaunnikkal'. From this day onwards, the statue will be called 'Onathappan'.
The pookalam from Pooradam day onwards get much bigger and complex in design. Shopping will be one of the major activities as the public will be making final purchases for the great Thiruvonam day.
- Uthradam- The ninth day
- After Attham it is the ninth and the penultimate day of the festival of Onam. It is also called 1st day of Onam (Onnam Onam). This day evening before dusk, the whole house and surroundings is cleaned. We will light all the lamps and 'Nilavilakku' we have at home will be used and kept till the next day noon. The importance of this day is last minute extreme shopping frenzy called as 'Uthradappachil' and is considered as the most auspicious day for purchase of fresh vegetables and fruits along with other provisions from the Thiruvonam day.
It marks the day when King Mahabali descends Kerala and the traditional myths says that the king will spend the next four days touring his erstwhile kingdom and blessing the subjects. Due to this, Urthadam is celebrated in a very pompous manner with larger pookalam and celebrations in household. The Uthrada Sadhya (Lunch) is very famous tradition. Women normally cuts the first set of vegetables on this day that marks the celebrations of Thiruvonam in each household and preparations for grand Onam buffet starts in evening of Uthradom day.
Thiruvonam- The tenth day
10th day is Thiruvonam and it is also called Randaam Onam. Thiruvonam day (10th day) it is told that we shouldnt pluck any flowers or cut any leaves. We shouldn't hurt anything as they are also waiting for the arrival of Mahabali. So very early morning the flowers are plucked for Onampookkalam and the plantain leaves (to serve the sadya/feast) is cut and kept. Some people prepares Ada(a rice flour preparation) for pooja. Everybody takes an early bath and wear new clothes. Special alms are given to the needy. The theory is to make each and every person happy.
It is the time to get new cloths and everything else they asked for or thought of. Many games and customs are there in onam days..Another thing is long swings are tied to the branches of large trees like the mango and jackfruit trees near most of the houses.
Another important activity of Thiruvonam is the Thiruvona Sadya. The feast served on plantain leaves have so many dishes. Each and everybody celebrates Onam in Kerala and they will never miss Onam sadya. There is a saying in Malayalam that "Kanam Vittum Onam Unnanam" which means "We should have the Thiruvonam lunch even if we have to sell all our properties" which shows the importance of the grand lunch on the Thiruvonam day. That is the importance of this grand feast on the Thiruvonam day.
The items to be served for Onam Sadhya.........
Inji Curry (Ginger curry), Mango Pickle, Naranga (Lemon) pickle, Pachadi/Kichadi (cucumber with curds), Thoran, Aviyal, Sarkarapuratty, Kaya Varuthathu(banana chips), Salt, Pappadam
Curries like Parippu curry, Sambar, Pulishery,Butter milk and Rasam is served. In sweet Ada pradaman is served with plantain. Items like Olan, Kootu curry, Erishery, Kaalan, Kadala pradhaman, Semiya payasam can also be served. All these items are served on a Banana leaf. All family members will sit together and have the wonderful feast.
One of the most marvelous facets of Onam is the unfolding of its rich and well-established culture. We see not just glimpses but a whole gamut of it in the ten-day-long carnival. Pulikali, Kaikottikali, Kummattikalli, Kathakali, Thumbi Thullal besides several other folk arts and traditions can be seen on one platform called Onam.
Onam awaits one very special visitor, Kerala's most loved legendary King Maveli. He is the King who once gave the people a golden era in 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, affectionately called Onathappan, that Onam is celebrated...
The beauty of the festival lies in it's secular fabric. People of all religions, castes and communities celebrate the festival with equal joy and verve. Onam also helps to create an atmosphere of peace and brotherhood.
Onam is the passion of the people of Kerala. And, pride of India!
