Onam is a harvest festival celebrated in Kerala. The first day of Onam is known as Atham and this year it will be celebrated on 30th August and will last till 8th September. It is celebrated with 10-day-long festivities and people wear new clothes, visit their ancestral homes, visit temples, hold traditional dances, feast, and exchange gifts. The highlight of the Onam festival is the Onam Sadhya, a traditional feast. Onam is also celebrated in some parts of Tamil Nadu. The 10-day celebration begins with the Atham ceremony, where a new umbrella is hoisted on the house. The swing, thayambaka, and Thiruvathirakali are other important aspects of Onam. The 10 Days of Onam Festival ends with the Thiruvathirakali ceremony.
When Onam Festival is Celebrated
Onam festival 2022, the festival of Tamil culture and tradition, is celebrated all over India with much pomp and ceremony. Onam is a ten-day celebration that begins on the first day of Chingam and ends with the festival of Thiruvonam.
Traditionally, the festival begins on Atham and ends on Thiruvonam. Onam is celebrated in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, and to a lesser extent in parts of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Onam 2022, the festival of Onam, is going to be observed on September 7, 2022, while Thiruv Poonam, the concluding day of the festival, is on September 8, 2022. The dates of the Onam festival are announced by the Government of Kerala every year.
How Onam Festival is Celebrated
The Onam festival is celebrated in the state of Kerala, India with great pomp and show. The festival is celebrated on the first day of the Malayalam month of Chingam (September-October).
The Onam festival is celebrated by Malayali people worldwide. The Onam festival marks the harvest festival of Kerala and is celebrated for ten days. Traditional Onam Sadhya, a ceremonial feast, is an important part of the Onam festival. The first day of the Onam festival is called Atham and is celebrated on the Thiruvonam star day. On this day, a ritual known as “Attam” (swinging) is performed, in which young boys and girls swing on wooden swings decorated and smeared with turmeric.
During Onam celebrations, people wear new clothes and visit their ancestral homes. The traditional rituals include decorating homes and vehicles with flowers and lighting lamps.
To invite King Mahabali to their home, the women of the household create a variety of designs on the ground using flowers and bright lights. People give and wear “Onakkodi,” or new clothing. Onam is also celebrated in some parts of Tamil Nadu. The 10-day celebration begins with the Atham ceremony, where a new umbrella is hoisted on the house. The swing, thayambaka, and Thiruvathirakali are other important aspects of Onam.
Onam celebrations also include Onathappan, a ritual in which nine young girls are selected out of all the eligible girls from the family to perform dances and hold flower pots on the head. The celebrations start with an auspicious event called ‘Atham. Onam’s main day is celebrated as Thiruvonam, and the celebrations end with the Thiruvonam feast.
Why Onam Festival is Celebrated
Onam, also spelled Oombar or Ambuiakali, is a celebrated festival in India that is usually celebrated in the month of August or September. Onam is an important festival in Kerala, India.
The Festival celebrates the return of the mythical king Mahabali to his kingdom after a long exile. It is also a time for friends and family to come together, celebrate life, and enjoy the arts. It is a harvest festival that celebrates the victory of good over evil. In honor of the great sage Mahabali who ruled the land and worshipped God with devotion for 12 years. This period of rule is called Dwapara Yuga and is considered the golden era when King Mahabali displayed great wisdom and virtue and taught the people about the importance of spirituality.
The Onam festival also celebrates the reunion of families and has many ritualistic observances. Onam is a celebration of Kerala’s culture, and people celebrate it in different ways. It is believed that a mythical king called Mahabali ruled his kingdom with great generosity and kindness. The legend of Mahabali is celebrated every year during the festival. The festival is marked by processions, cultural programs, boat races, sports competitions, and fireworks.
Music and Dance Genre of Onam festivals
The tradition of music and dance is an important part of the celebrations. There are many different styles of music performed at Onam, but the chakyar puliyam is one of the most popular and well-known.
Chakyar puliyam is an energetic dance accompanied by drums and cymbals. It is performed during festivals and by village troupes at village fairs. Villagers also dress up in colorful costumes and perform traditional dances to entertain the crowd at these events. The music used in these performances is usually very upbeat and cheerful and is meant to liven up the party.
Traditionally, the Chakyar Puliyam was performed by Brahmins. However, in recent times it has been adapted for use by other groups as well. It is now a popular folk dance throughout Kerala and it is performed by people of all walks of life. Some of the other popular dance genres performed at Onam include Padayani, Thiruvathirakali, Kalyani, and Kuchipudi. These dances are all very different in nature but all of them represent the unique culture of Kerala and draw large crowds during the festivals.
The Chakyar Puliyam is performed in four parts- the opening lines, the chorus, the second chorus, and the concluding lines. The opening lines are performed by the main dancer while the chorus of dancers around him perform the dance in unison. The second chorus is then performed after which each dancer sings a line from the refrain. The main dancer then recites the last line before the dancers surround him and strike a final pose to end the performance.
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