Onam Festival 2020 – Kerala’s Favorite Celebration Is More Than Just A Harvest Festival

Off the Malabar Coast in the southern half of India lies God’s own country, Kerala. Marked with rolling hills, pristine beaches, traditional art forms, scintillating waterfalls, acres of tea, coffee, spice plantations, dazzling festivals, hidden backwaters, etc., the state has an abundance to offer to any explorer. If you visit the state during the late monsoons, get ready to immerse yourself in a once-in-a-lifetime kind of cultural fete during Onam, Kerala’s official state festival.

Malayali diaspora throughout the state and other places are joined by people of various religious and cultural ethnicity in this elaborate celebration. It is primarily a harvest festival observed in the month of Chingam that marks the beginning of the Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham. On the Gregorian Calendar, it falls in the month of August-September.

According to the legend, this is when the powerful and benevolent King Mahavali came back from other world to the earth every year to meet his people since being sent to Patal lok by Vaman, an avatar of Lord Vishnu. His revisit marks the 10-day long celebration of Onam since the Sangam period India.

Onam 2020 dates

In 2020, the Onam festival starts on August 22 and will end on September 2 with the fourth Onam. The main celebrations are due to occur on August 31 on Thiruvonam Day or the Sacred Onam Day.

August 22, 2020 – Atham

The grand procession Athachamayam from Vamanamoorthy Thirrikara Temple in Kochi marks the beginning of the Onam celebrations. In households and temple premises, designing of Pookalam commences, although subtly, with yellow flowers. In homes, people also install clay statues of Vamana and Mahabali in their dung-plastered courtyards.

August 23, 2020 – Chithira

Keralites clean and decorate their homes, and add two more circular layers to the Pookalam with creamy yellow and orange flowers. They also pay a visit to the temple.

August 24, 2020 – Chodi

It is the day of onnakodi or onappudava. New clothes and jewelry are bought and gifted to friends and family members. Women don Kasavu sarees, men wear mundu, while young girls receive Pattu Pavada. A yet another layer gets added to the Pookalam, and it continues to grow bigger and more detailed.

August 25, 2020 – Vishakam

With harvest sales around, people would stock up vegetables and other ingredients for this day. Why? Because this is the day the preparations of the grand feast Onasadya begin.

August 26, 2020 – Anizham

Time to head out to the waters and row the boats. Anizham sees the snake boat face-off or Vallam kali ( boat race ) on the Pamba River.

August 27, 2020 – Thriketa

Thriketa is the day for some more family time. Many would visit their ancestral homes and spend time with their loved ones.

August 28, 2020 – Moolam

By this time, the state gets adorned with colors and lights all over. Many temples start offering Onasadya while households hold the feast on a smaller scale but no less vigor. You can also see numerous performers on the street for Pulikali and Kaikottukali dances.

August 29, 2020 – Pooradam

On this day, the devotees install statues of King Mahabali and Lord Vamana as a gesture to welcome Mahabali to all the houses. The clay pyramid-like structures fixed in the center of Pookalam is also termed as Onathappan.

August 30, 2020 – Uthradam or First Onam

The First Onam marks the first day of the arrival of King Mahabali in Kerala. Many Keralites go shopping for vegetables and fresh fruits and clean their houses on this auspicious.

August 31, 2020 – Thiruvonam Onam

All the celebrations of the past days reach culmination point on Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam. A traditional welcome gesture is putting flour batter at the entrance so that King Mahabali can visit every household and give his blessings on his entire kingdom. The Pookalam is finally complete with all its details and colors. Alms are distributed to the poor and needy, and everyone gathers for the grandest feast Onasadya.

Post-Onam celebrations

September 1, 2020 – Avittom or Third Onam

Households and every other locality prepare for the return journey of Mahabali back to Patal. The Onathappan idol immersion takes place, marking the departure of King Mahabali and the final conclusion to Onam’s celebration. Post the immersion, the Pookalam also gets cleaned up.

How is Onam celebrated ?

The 10-day long festival sees Keralites indulging in numerous celebratory acts. Reflective of the state’s rich culture, it is indeed fun and enriching to be a part of the celebrations. Women dress up in the traditional white and golden saree called Kasavu saree, draw decorative rangolis on the floor, and engage in ritualistic dances (Thumbi Thullal).The men involve themselves in the tiger dances (Pulikali), boat races (Vallam Kali), martial arts (Onathallu), tug of wars, among others.
Locals also sing folk songs, stage traditional dance performances, and offer prayers to the deity of Vamana, Thrikkakara Appan, or Onatthappan. And of course, there is the traditional grand feast Onasadya, serving an assortment of vegetarian dishes on banana leaves.