Chingam, which happens from August to September, is considered the first month of the Malayalam calendar. The festivity of Onam also happens this month and goes on for 10 days. The beginning day is Atham, and it concludes on the day known as Thiruvonam. The celebration of Onam varies from region to region, even if the entire Kerala celebrates it. However, the floral carpets and the grand feast remain as a universal thing, which takes place as part of the festivity.
Let’s discuss various rituals that happen during Onam-
The Flower Carpet
People lay the circles of floral carpets on the ground. This is more common in Central and North Kerala. Before that, the area kept for the pookkalam is coated with cow dung.
Many people arrange flowers on the sand, which resembles a pyramid. Yellow flowers are used in the ritual since it is believed that when Mahabali started his journey, yellow flowers were used.
Those who are from Namboothiri families use pumpkin to obtain the yellow flowers. They then place the basil leaf and flowers of thumba at the center of the pookkalam. Some people also follow the practice to keep some cow dung in a small bag and place it in the middle of pookkalam with thumba and mukutti flowers and then place a basil leaf on top.
Clay Figures
There are a total of ten days in Onam, and as the days pass, the decoration near the pookkalam increases. This way, when the seventh day comes, the pookkalam takes a square shape. The next day, people make a trail of flowers that goes from the entrance to pookkalam. The biggest pookkalam is made on the last day of Onam, and there is no flower carpet used on the day.
Bring Home the Deity
Onathappan, Thrikkakara Appan, or Mathevar are clay figures that are pyramid-shaped. These figures are placed near the pookkalam, and they represent Vamana and Mahabali. The figures are placed near the pookkalam from on the eighth and ninth day.
These are placed on a high platform or banana leaves, and people decorate them with rice flour paste and flowers. The clay figures of muthiyamma and mootharu are also placed that represent an old-aged couple. The grinding stones such as ammikkallu, aattukallu, and ural are also placed along with other kitchen utilities such as cattle and plow.
Mathever Arranged near Pookkalam
There are some Namboothiri homes of Kondotti, Thenhipalam, and Nilambur in Malappuram. Here pookkalams are arranged with Mathevar on a banana leaf. Each day, they make one Mathevar, and hence 10 of them are made in total.
Meanwhile, the figure of Mahabali is drawn on sand instead of creating a clay figure. The sand figure is then filled with slices of the thumba plant.
These Mathevars are then pacified with poojas and offerings such as Poovada (steamed rice patty), bananas (ripe or boiled), and pappadam. However, the Southern districts of Kerala don’t follow the ritual of making Mathevar.
The festivity then continues, and people draw a huge clay figure called Makathadiyan which means a fat man. Afterward, the grand feast is prepared, which is still a practice in many parts of Central and North Kerala.
Happening of Games
In the olden days, there were many games organized during Onam, however many of them have disappeared with time. There are still a few that people participate in and continue to play. At Nhangattiri in Palakkad, women become a part of games like Pennirakkal and Kaikottikali. Thumbithullal, Chattipanthu kali, Erupanthu kali, and Thalama are other games that are played.
Kids Onam
In the month of Karkkadakam in the Malayalam calendar, Thiruvonam was observed as Pilleronam. This is the onam for kids and hence named Pilleronam where piller means children. They prepare the feast with four curries erissery, pulissery, olan, and payasam. In some homes, pookkalams are arranged from this day.
Namboothiri Desserts
Namboothiri households prepare dishes like modakam and kozhukutta made of rice flour and jaggery. They also prepare sweet rice flakes, banana wafers, and sharkkaravaratti on different days. Payasams are also made from the fifth day. Then comes the day known as Uthrattathi, on which the married girls come home.
That is how various celebrations and rituals happen during Onam in various parts of Kerala.
