Onam Festival Date 2017 to 2022
Onam Festival Date of Year 2017 : 4th September 2017 ( Monday)
Onam Festival Date of Year 2018 : 25th August 2018 ( Saturday)
Onam Festival Date of Year 2019 : 11th September 2019 ( Wednesday)
Onam Festival Date of Year 2020 : 31st August 2020 ( Monday)
Onam Festival Date of Year 2021 : 21st August 2021 ( Saturday)
Onam Festival Date of Year 2022 : 8th September 2017 ( Sunday)
About Onam
The most famous festival of Kerala and celebrated throughout the country, Onam is an important harvest festival, a time of feasting and enjoyment. Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first
month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the
month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.As both a national festival and the state festival of Kerala, Onam is celebrated on a grand scale, eagerly looked forward to by Malayalis. It’s not just Malayalis who celebrate this occasion however; people of all religions and creeds enjoy being a part of the festivities, making it one of the truly secular festivals in India.
Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.
Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colorful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam.
Onam Celebration
Onam is celebrated in the southern state of Kerala in India. It is considered to be the biggest cultural festival of the state. The cities where major celebrations take place include Kottayam, Trivandrum, Kochi and Thrissur etc. The entire festival is celebrated as tourism week by the Kerala state government. The rich hues of Malayalam culture are beautifully showcased during the festival season.
Singing traditional boat songs, the oarsmen splash their oars into the water to the rhythm of the songs. They guide their boats to cruise along, seemingly like a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the centre make it a spectacular show of pageantry. Though ostensibly a competitive event, the festival is more a visual extravaganza.
To date on the eve of Thiru Onam the boat Palliodam floats down from Katoormana to the accompaniment of blowing of conch shells, music and drum beating. Torches are lit and snake boats accompany the procession. The colourful boat festival is held on Uthruttathi or the fifth day after Thiru Onam.
Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the river Pamba and is worshipped like a deity. Only men are allowed to board or even touch a boat and that just barefoot. Every year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs. The black mixture keeps the wood strong and the boat slippery in the water. Annual repairs are carried out lovingly by the village carpenter and people take pride in their boat, which represents their village and is named after it.
Tradition demands that the Nambudiri Brahmin be at the main rudder oar about 12 feet long. There are four main oarsmen who control the movement of the boat. And in minutes the boat can turn around just by the twist of the hand by the chief oarsman. In the old days the villagers used to sit in the boat in order of their castes but today the order is changing though a certain pattern can still be distinguished.
Everyone- the carpenter, the barber, the goldsmith, the blacksmith as well as the agricultural labourers - all have a place on the boat. And in close harmony and magnificent synchronization they pull at the oars. In Trichur, a vibrant procession with resplendently caparisoned elephants is taken out.
Onam Rituals
Onam is the rice harvest festival of Kerala. It is also known as the festival of Rain flowers.
All the ten days of celebration of Onam has its own significance.
The characteristic floral designs known as ‘pookkalam’ are symbolic of this festival. Usually the women of the house make different types of patterns on the ground with flowers and lit lamps to invite King Mahabali to their house.
People gift and wear new clothes; this is known as onakkodi.
Grand feasts are prepared on this occasion. This is known as onam ‘sadya’. Usually around 13 dishes are prepared for this. The food is served on banana leaves and commonly consists of rice along with different dishes, pickles and papads.
A characteristic sweet dish called ‘payasam’ is a must during Onam. It is made of rice, milk, sugar and coconut.
Vallamkali is the ritual of Snake boat race called ‘chundans’ that is a grand event in Kerala nowadays. Huge snake shaped boats rowed by hundreds of oarsmen compete with each other. Huge amounts of cash rewards are distributed as prizes for the winners.
People burn fire crackers during Onam.
Elephants decorated with huge amounts of gold ornaments are characteristic of Onam processions.
Thrikkakara appan or Vaman Vishnu idols are installed at homes for worship.
Different types of cultural activities mark the celebration of Onam which include the traditional Kathakali dance, music, art and cuisine.
Special dancers painted in yellow and black resembling tigers are seen commonly during Onam performing Pulikali dance.
This time of the year is declared as the Tourism week in Kerala as this is the best time to visit the state.
Onam is of special importance as it unites people of all religions residing in the state. It spreads the message of unity and peace in society.
Onam Legend
Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.
It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.
Onam Pictures
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