Onam: The many ways Keralam celebrates
The article explores the diverse regional traditions of the Onam festival in Kerala, moving beyond the standard narrative of King Mahabali. It highlights unique customs, such as the creation of clay figures and specific floral arrangements in Palakkad.
Why it matters
Documenting regional variations of cultural festivals preserves intangible heritage and provides a deeper understanding of local community identities.
The Onam we know falls in the first month of the Malayalam calendar year, Chingam. Starting on Atham day, it is celebrated for ten days, culminating on Thiruvonam. The festival pivots around the arrival of the benevolent Asura ruler, King Mahabali, amid a dazzle of pookkalams, sadyas and payasams.
But beyond this popular narrative, there is more to Onam. It is a multi-layered construct built by myth, legend and local traditions. Celebrations take on diverse hues across regions and communities. For instance, in certain pockets of Palakkad, people start making pookkalams from the month of Karkkadakam, the month preceding Chingam. This spills over to the following month of Kanni, as well.
Girija Varier, a retired teacher from Palakkad, says that they start laying the pookkalam from Thiruvonam day in Karkkadakam and stop on Atham day in Chingam, the day when the rest of Keralam begins laying pookkalams!
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