- Onam festivities kicked-off on August 12
- The main celebrations will be held from August 21 to 23
- Onam celebrations may be slightly low-key this year due to the coronavirus pandemic
Onam, a harvest festival that falls within the months of August/September annually, is widely known across India and therefore the world, and is main festival among Keralites. consistent with the Malayali month of Chingam, the festival falls on the 22nd Nakshatra Thiruvonam, and marks the start of the Malayalam year, called Kolla Varsham.
This year, festivities kicked-off on August 12. But the main festival, the one that is celebrated widely in Kerala, will start with Thiruvonam on August 21. August 22 will be the third day of Onam and the festival will conclude on August 23.
The festival begins on the day referred to as Atham, and ends on the tenth day, referred to as Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam, also the foremost auspicious day during the festival of Onam. This year, the celebrations leading up to Onam onwards and Thiruvonam are going to be celebrated on August 23.
Onam festival is widely known to honour the kind-hearted and much-beloved demon King Mahabali, who is believed to return to Kerala during this festival.
ONAM 2021 Dates
- Thiruvonam Nakshathram begins at 9:25 PM on 20 August 2021
- Thiruvonam Nakshathram ends at 8:22 PM on 21 August 2021
History And Significance of Onam
According to Vaishnava mythology, King Mahabali defeated the Gods and commenced ruling over all three worlds. King Mahabali was a demon king who belonged to the Asura tribe. The kind-hearted king was much-loved by the people. The Gods got insecure of King Mahabali’s popularity and Lord Vishnu to step in and help contain Mahabali.
Lord Vishnu took on his fifth avatar, within the sort of the Brahmin dwarf Vamana, and paid a visit to King Mahabali. King Mahabali asked Vamana what he wished for, to which Vamana responded, “three pieces of land”. When Vamana was granted his wish, he grew in size and in his first and second pace respectively, he covered the sky, then the netherworld.
When Lord Vishnu was close to take his third pace, King Mahabali offered his own head to the God. This act impressed Lord Vishnu such a lot that he granted Mahabali the proper to go to his kingdom and other people per annum during Onam festivities.
Rituals of Onam
During the ten-day festivities, devotees bathe, offer prayers, wear traditional clothes — women of the household wear a white and gold saree called the Kasavu saree – participate in dance performances, draw flower rangolis called pookkalam and cook traditional feasts called sadya. Sadya is served on banana leaves during Onam.
The 10-day festivities also see people participating in boat races called Vallam Kali, Tiger dances called Pulikali, worship the God or Onathappan, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal or women’s dance ritual, Mask dance or Kummattikali, Onathallu or martial arts, Onavillu/music, Onapottan (costumes), folk songs among other fun activities.
Happy Onam Wishes, Messages, Greetings, Quotes, SMS
- Keep the spirit of Onam in your hearts. May your home be filled with joy, love, and peace. Happy Onam!!
- Colorful Pookalam, lively songs, and delicious feast. Complete it with prayers to have a blessed year ahead till the next Onam festival. Happy Onam 2021!
- Happy Onam. On this joyous occasion of Onam, I wish you joy and good health, and may you always enjoy the bounty of nature!
- Wishing that King Mahabali blesses you with all that you desire. Happy Onam!
- The air is filled with joy and zeal. It’s colorful everywhere. Homes are adorned with colorful embellishments. But I hope that Onam is not just about that. I hope that the spirit of Onam fills your heart with happiness and fulfillment.
- May this Onam bring to you, the brightest and choicest happiness and love you have always wished for! Onashamsakal!
- Wishing you a life as colourful as pookalam, as festive as this Onam festival, and as prosperous as the bountiful harvest. Happy Onam to you!
- This Onam, may you be showered with good luck, prosperity, and happiness. Have a wonderful Onam
- One more Onam is coming to remind us of Maveli’s golden rule. Let me take the pleasure to wish you and your family a happy Onam festival! I wish that next year, I’ll be there to celebrate this celebration with you. Have a blessed Onam 2021!
- On the occasion of Onam, I pray that your life is filled with abundance, happiness, and success. Onam greetings to you and your family.
The traditional Onam feast
The traditional Onam sadya (feast) may be a 9-course meal that consists of 26 dishes. It includes Kalan (a sweet potato and yam coconut curry dish), Olan (white gourd prepared in coconut curry), Avial (seasonal vegetables in coconut curry), Kootu curry (a dish made from chickpeas), rasam (a soup-like dish made with a base of tomato and pepper, eaten with rice and other preparations) and therefore the much-loved dessert, Parippu payasam (a rice kheer preparation).
1. Pappadam
No Onam Sadhya is complete without these pappads made from rice flour.
2. Upperi
Perhaps the most beloved item on this list, banana chips are served by the handful before the other 25 dishes.
3. Sharkara Varatti
This sweeter version of banana chips is made out of jaggery and though the sweet made be hard to eat, it will certainly leave you wanting more.
4. Inji Curry
Inji curry is made from ginger, tamarind and jaggery. In most Malayali households, this is the first thing that is prepared in the days leading to the 10th day of Onam.
5. Mango Curry
This mango pickle will add a spicy kick to your meal.
6. Naranga Curry
Of the two types of pickles served at Onam Sadhya, this sour lemon pickle will certainly add some zest to your meal.
7. Pachadi
Another yogurt-based dish for the feast, this is a curry made with either pineapple or bitter gourd, and grated coconut.
8. Olan
This is made with ash gourd and red beans splashed with a generous amount of hand-pressed, authentic coconut milk.
9. Ellisheri
This dish includes pumpkin, red beans, and a generous amount of grated coconut.
10. Avial
An often-ignored dish on this occasion, Avial is one of the best mixed vegetable dishes. It is made by mixing vegetable with grated coconut and is cooked in coconut oil and milk.
11. Thoran
Thoran can be made from any vegetable and is a staple in every Malayali household. Usually, it is made with cabbage and carrots or just beans with grated coconut.
12. Chor
Rice is an essential part of Onam Sadhya but on this occasion, most Malayalis serve red rice.
13. Parripu Curry
For this dish, plain moong dal is topped with ghee, red chillies, and black sesame seeds.
14. Chenna Mezhkkupuratti
For this dish, yam is cut into thin slices, boiled with spices and fried in coconut oil.
15. Sambhar
An essential dish for the feast, each family has their own recipe for Sambhar. It is cooked with every vegetable there is, from beans to potatoes to yam.
16. Pulissery
Made with curd and a vegetable of your choice ranging from pumpkin to cucumber and topped with a gracious amount of grated coconut.
17. Kaalan
This signature Onam Sadhya dish is made with yogurt, yam or raw banana and grated coconut.
18. Morru Kachiyatha
If you are a Malayali, this is definitely a part of your comfort food. It is made by boiling yogurt to perfection with black sesame seeds, shallots, ginger, and garlic.
19. Kichadi
Another delicious dish is this one made using spicy yogurt and your choice of vegetable. It can be okra, cucumber, or even bitter gourd.
20. Rasam
Eaten as a rice accompaniment, this can also be drunk to aid in digestion. It is made with spicy tamarind soup, sprinkled with a generous amount of curry leaves, mustard and tomatoes.
21. Kootu Curry
The ingredients in this might surprise you, it is made with raw bananas, black chana and grated coconut made into a dry curry.
22. Neyy
Usually known as ghee in Hindi, a spoonful of this is poured over the rice and parripu to give it an extra flavour.
23. Inji Thayir
This delicious dish is made using loads of thinly sliced ginger mixed with yogurt, black sesame seeds and spices.
24. Poovan Pazham
This includes the smaller version of bananas. When mashed together, it goes exceptionally well with Payasam, and pappadam can be thrown into the mix for that extra crunch.
