Onam festival is coming up. India is so diverse, with so many people, communities, cultures, and traditions. We all wait for that time of the year when we can enjoy and immerse ourselves in the festival, be it in any city or state you are in at present.
Well, it’s the love and unity in our Indian traditions, and the urge to be part of them and celebrate along with them. How interesting it is to get to know more about each festival, live local, be involved in the festival, get dressed, and relish the traditional cultural meals and sweet dishes. Some things in our culture are years old, often connected to mythological and regional stories. The belief system we carry about it stays and passes on from generation to generation. It’s a yearly tradition, and different ways people wish to celebrate and follow their festival.
People travel from across cities and countries to spend time with their loved ones during each festival. This brings together everyone who is far away from their homes.
Being home and celebrating a festival with your loved ones is another level of happiness and delight. Seeing India celebrate, we have international tourists who travel 1000s of kilometres just to be part of our festival. The happiness and joy they receive during the festival is something they carry back home as a memory. It attracts them each year to be part of it.
All festivals have their specific purpose, meaning, and importance. The list is long, and so is the interest.
Kerala is always on our bucket list, and knowing it has a vibrant festival to attend is yet another level of satisfaction, especially if you’re invited by a friend, or you happen to land in that area that month super cool it can get.
It’s one of the harvest festivals. This state festival of Kerala comes in August and September. It’s not just the New Year that we celebrate at 12 am on the 31st night, but our cultures have their own new years. Hence, Onam is the Malayali New Year.
There is a very fascinating story of this festival of the Asura King Mahabali. This festival is specially celebrated to welcome him back to the state to visit his Malayalam community.
This king was known as might demon who used to rule Kerala. He brought a lot of peace and equality to the state.
Onam is also a way to thank and feel gratitude for the harvest during the monsoon.
Families clean their homes, decorate with new décor, and get well dressed in Malayalam sarees and lungis. They decorate their entrance with beautiful flowers. Yellows, oranges, and leaves. The entrance is so pretty that you will definitely guess what event it is. This décor is called the Pookkalam. An entry with a carpet full of flowers.
Things you can do on Onam
Kerala is full of backwaters, and you will find many house boats to ferries.
You can’t miss the famous Vallam Kali boat race; you will get to see it during this festival. You will be mesmerised by the way the participants sway together back and forth is senergy and unity.
It’s a beautiful and thrilling sight to see; one can’t miss. They practise all year round to win that race.
Every festival has its ceremonies, music and dance. Get into a circle and enjoy the folk tradition dance called the thiruvathirakali.
You will also see some cool mascots, especially dressed like a tiger, and they perform a special dance called the Pulikali.
You will be amazed to see how the entire state is decorated and prepared for this event.
It’s not all about idli, sambar, and vada, but a day you can relish more than 21 items on your plate. It is called the Onasadya. The platter is huge, laid on a banana leaf, and has traditional dishes.
A meal that one can never forget; never go empty-stomached. Be it locals, Malayalis, or tourists, all go bonkers with this meal. Once you’re used to this meal, you wait all round the year to relish it. During festivals, the happiness and joy in the hearts and minds of the chefs bring it on the platter, and hence the taste is all the more amazing on that day.
Don’t be disappointed if you’re unable to attend the festival in Kerala; look around, you shall find friends, community, and even Kerala restaurants who will give you a similar experience of the festival. So what are you waiting for?
Go on Google and type ” Onam festival meal near me.
