Onam Festival 2023 Date, Time, Rituals & Significance
Onam, one of the most important festivals celebrated by the Malayali Hindu community, symbolises the beginning of the annual harvest season in southern India. As the official state festival, it is commemorated with great enthusiasm and accompanied by multiple festivities throughout Kerala. According to the Malayalam calendar, the ceremony is held in the first month of Chingam, which corresponds to August and September in the Gregorian calendar.
Thiruvonam Date 2023
29th August 2023 Tuesday
Thiruvonam Nakshatra Begins On Aug 29, 2023 at 02:43 AM
Thiruvonam Nakshatra Ends On Aug 29, 2023 at 11:50 PM
Rituals of Onam Festival
- On Attam, family members rose early to don their new “Onakkodi” attire. They venerate and mount Thrikkakara appan Vishnu statues.11:50 PM
- The east sides of the homes of women in Kerala are adorned with “Pookkalam” floral motifs. To greet King Mahabali or Maveli (Onappattukal), they burn lamps and sing traditional Onam songs.
- During the swinging ceremony of Thiru Onam, a swing is suspended from a lofty branch of a tree. Women take turns riding this rose-decorated swing while singing entrancing melodies.
- On the third day of Onam, a grand feast known as “Onam Sadya” is organised for families and acquaintances. At least thirteen dishes, including rice, vegetable curry, curd, and Payasam (sweet stew), are prepared on banana leaves.
- Payasam is considered an essential Onam Special dish. It is composed of rice, milk, sugar, and coconut.
- Organised is the popular “Vallamkali” or Snake Boat Race. At the race in Alappuzha, Kerala, hundreds of enormous, elaborately adorned boats with at least seven drums participate. This enormous Onam exhibit attracts visitors from across the nation and the globe.
- On the ninth day of Onam, people give gifts of vegetables and coconut oil to the senior member of the family, known as “Karanavar” (Onakazhcha). This ritual is primarily practised by the Nair sects of Kerala, who are the primary practitioners of this method.
- During the Onam holiday, temples and religious sites host a variety of cultural activities and festivals, especially on the tenth day. Elephants are adorned with ornaments, and grand processions are conducted.
History And Significance Onam Festival
In mythology, King Mahabali of Kerala vanquished the Gods and governed all three worlds. Throughout his reign, prosperity and splendour reigned supreme; the local populace enjoyed the best of times. The Gods felt threatened by Mahabali’s popularity, so they asked Lord Vishnu to contain him. To terminate Mahabali’s reign over the world. The Lord disguised himself as a Vaman (short for Brahmin) and deceived the King into granting him all of his land. King Mahabali was consequently banished to a lower realm, but Vishnu granted him the ability to return to his homeland once a year. Onam is celebrated to commemorate the return of the King.