Onam 2023: From floral carpets to special delicacies, 10-day celebrations begin with Atham

Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], August 20 (ANI): The 10-day Onam celebrations in Kerala started with the Atham celebrations on August 20. It is a festival that honours King Mahabali and Vamana. 

To welcome Mahabali, people start constructing floral carpets (Pookkalam) in front of their homes and institutions. Celebrations of many kinds begin today in schools, universities, offices, and other locations. 

During the Onam festival, people usually wear traditional kasavu saris and mundu (dhoti). It is a time when family members and friends gather and exchange gifts like new dresses. During Onam, unique food items are prepared at home and distributed to others. One of the highlights of the Onam celebrations is the preparation of Onasadya, a special vegetarian feast.

Onam is celebrated in the Chingam month, which marks the beginning of the Malayalam calendar. This is a harvest celebration.

In Kerala, Onam is celebrated to remember the exemplary governance under the leadership of daitya monarch Mahabali, a mythological ruler who once governed Kerala. According to tradition, the devas and gods plotted to terminate Mahabali’s rule because they were jealous of his popularity and authority. They dispatched Vamana to earth as a dwarf Brahmin, who stomped Mahabali to the patala (netherworld).

This is a significant occasion for merchants as well. People spend money on purchases. Shops also offer large discounts to attract clients. Kerala is celebrating for the next ten days.

Floral carpets are made by women dressed in traditional saris. They assemble and sing a well-known song in honour of the occasion.

One of the locals, Deepa told ANI, “Today is the beginning of the ten-day celebration, and there is a special song about it. We will start making flower carpets in our homes, similar to how my grandmother used to celebrate Atham, and we will also follow the tradition by putting different levels of flowers each day. She used to make the first layer of flowers on the first day, then the second layer the next day, and finally the floral carpet is completed on the tenth day of Onam. So it’s a time to gather with family and friends. It is a time to rejoice and support those in need.”

Sneha added, “We prepare special delicacies like payasam and used to play dramas and do dance competitions.” 

Vyshna also shared, “It is a time to go shopping and purchase saris and gold jewellery.”

Athachamayam is a cultural festival that kicks off the ten-day Onam Festival.