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After the gloomy monsoon months, when the sky clears up and the sun flashes its golden rays, Kerala prepares for Onam, the state’s biggest festival. Onam is celebrated in the Malayalam month of ‘Chingam,’ which comes around August or September.
Onam is not just a festival, but an emotion for Keralites. Onam is celebrated over ten days, starting from the day called Attham, and goes on till Thiruvonam, the main festival day. During these ten days, many vibrant programs are conducted in Kerala, and also across the globe by the Malayali expat communities. Keralites, irrespective of their religion and socio-economic status, celebrate Onam.
There’s an interesting legend behind the celebration of Onam.
Onam: The Legend of Asura King Mahabali
It’s believed that Mahabali, a powerful and kind Asura king, once ruled Kerala. During his rule, the kingdom prospered, and everyone was happy. Mahabali’s popularity started to spread across the universe. Devas started getting worried about Mahabali, an Asura king, gaining the goodwill of the people. During this time, Mahabali started an Ashwamedha Yaga to conquer the whole universe. Worried, Devas approached Lord Vishnu and requested that he bring an end to Mahabali’s rule. Vishnu decided to test King Mahabali.
Hinduistic, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
During the Yaga, it was known that Mahabali would grant the wishes of sages. So, Vishnu took the Vamana Avatar as a young Brahmin. Vamana approached Mahabali and asked for three steps of land so that he could sit and do his penance. Mahabali immediately agreed. However, Mahabali’s teacher, Shukracharya, realised that Vamana was actually Vishnu. Shukracharya tried to dissuade Mahabali from fulfilling his offer. However, Mahabali, the honourable king, couldn’t think of breaking his promise. So, he asked Vamana to measure three feet of land. Vamana suddenly grew into a gigantic form. With two steps, Vamana measured the earth and the heavens. There was no place left for the third step. Mahabali offered his head for the third step. Vamana placed his feet on Mahabali’s head, pushing him into Patala, or the netherworld.
Painting by Raja Ravi Varma, via Wikimedia Commons
As per the legend, Mahabali asked for a boon before disappearing into Patala: Once every year, he would like to come back to Kerala to visit his people. Pleased by Mahabali’s integrity and kindness, Lord Vishnu, in the form of Vamana, granted this boon.
People in Kerala celebrate Onam every year to welcome King Mahabali.
Art and Cultural Traditions of Onam
Many vibrant cultural and art traditions are associated with the Onam festival. The food, attire, rituals, games and cultural practices around the Onam festival are truly captivating. We’ll have a quick look at some of the cultural and artistic traditions associated with Onam.
Pookalam: The Traditional Floral Carpets with Intricate Designs
One of the most popular art practices related to Onam is Pookalam, also called Athapookalam. Poookalam in Malayalam means a sketch or design made of flowers. Traditionally, Keralites make Pookalams of different styles and designs for ten days, starting from the day of Attham, and going all the way up to Thiruvonam.
Image Courtesy: Bhuvana Meenakshi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
While there are no rules or standards in creating the floral carpets, traditionally, these are created in a circular shape, using the locally available flowers. In some regions, on the first day of Onam, Pookalams are created using only one flower, and two flowers on the second day, culminating in a grand floral carpet on the tenth day, Thiruvonam. Traditionally, the clay figurine of Thrikkarayappan, a symbol of Vishnu’s Vamana Avatar, is also placed in the centre of the Pookkalam on the Thiruvonam Day.
Divyavip, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Popular Pookalam Designs
The beauty of Pookalams, the floral carpet, lies in its versatility. There are no rules for creating a Pookalam; it can be made of simple circles of flowers or can evolve into complex, realistic images. According to strict traditions, the Pookalam of every Onam day is in circular shape, except the Pookalam on the day of Moolam, which is in square shape.
However, Pookalams' designs have evolved over the years. Pookalams of every shape and size - rectangles, squares, stars, and hexagons. There are also asymmetric Pookalam designs, for example, in the shapes of a snake boat or the Kathakali mask.
Photo Courtesy: By Vijayanrajapuram - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0
Geometric shapes like squares, circles, and triangles are widely used in Pookalam designs. Floral motifs like Paisleys, or teardrop designs are also popular motifs for Pookalams. Repeating and concentric designs are very popular, which gives a highly intricate feel to the Pookalam.
Image Courtesy: Vijayanrajapuram, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
In modern days, many experiments are done with Pookalams, both in their designs and the colour themes. Some try to give a 3D effect to the Pookalam by laying the flowers thick or using a particular colour palette. Pookalams are indeed an artistic marvel, and an art form practised by a large diaspora of people, men, women, and children alike.
Making of a Pookalam
Pookalams are often made in the front yard of the house. It could also be made in the veranda, or sit out in modern houses. Traditionally, the floral carpets are laid on specially prepared ground. For this, the ground is first cleaned, and then smeared with cow dung. Once the dung dries up in the bright sun, the floral carpets are laid on it.
Image Courtesy: Ramesh Kunnappully, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Traditionally, flowers are laid on the prepared surface, without sketching out the design. However, as Pookalams have become more complex, the design is first sketched onto the surface using chalk, and then the flowers are laid on it, starting from the centre of the design, going outward. Often, multiple people work on a Pookalam at the same time, working on different parts of the design. So, creating Pookalam is also a great opportunity for people to come together and have fun. It’s a perfect example of community-oriented art.
Onam and Pulikali: The Art of Body Painting
Image Courtesy: Jinoy Tom Jacob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pulikali, which translates to ‘leopard game’ in Malayalam, is a popular folk art form of Kerala. Pulikali is predominantly performed during the time of Onam in Kerala. It’s an interesting art form that combines music, drama, dance and body painting. Dancers, with body paint, masks and costumes, imitate the movements of tigers, and a hunter character goes around, trying to hunt tigers.
The performers of Pulikali use their bodies as a canvas for intricate designs. They paint their bodies with vibrant yellow, orange, black and white stripes that resemble a tiger. Some also use the leopard print. Pulikali is often performed on the fourth day of Onam, as a part of Onam processions. Intricate body painting designs that resemble realistic tigers and leopards are rendered on the belly of the dancers.
Image Courtesy: Jinoy Tom Jacob, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Pulikali dancers also use elaborate face masks that resemble the faces of tigers and leopards. The face masks are often made using paper, glue, paints and locally available materials. The lightweight paper masks of Pulikali are somewhat related to the papier mache art; however, this art form has independently evolved.
Ona Villu: The Traditional Bow Painting from Kerala
Image Courtesy: Natrajdr at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Onavillu, translated to ‘the bow of Onam’, is a traditional, ceremonial wooden bow made around the time of Onam. The Onavillu is a vibrant bow, often painted in red, and intricate stories from Hindu mythologies are painted on it in a miniature form.
The tradition of making Onavillu, the ceremonial bow, dates back to the 14th century. Traditionally, these bows are made to be dedicated to the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvanathapuram on the day of Thiruvonam. The manufacturing and painting of Onavillu is done by a few artisan families of Kerala.
The Legend of the Origin of Onavillu
There is an interesting legend behind the creation of Onavillu. It’s closely related to the legend behind the Onam festival. When Vamana took the gigantic form and was about to push Mahabali into Pathala, Mahabali wished to see all ten avatars of Vishnu. So, Vishnu instructed Vishwakarma, the divine architect, to fulfil Mahabali’s wish.
Vishwakarma is believed to have painted each Avatar on a wooden bow. He also promised Mahabali that every year, he would paint a new set of bows and present them to the Vishnu temple, so that Mahabali could see them during his visit to Kerala during Onam. This is the belief behind dedicating the Onavillu to the Sree Padmanabha Swamy temple during Onam.
Image Courtesy: Sugeesh at Malayalam Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Making of Onavillu
Onavillu, the ceremonial bow, is made using Mahogany or Kadamba wood, which are considered auspicious trees. Initially, the wood is cut into flat planks in the shape of a canoe. Onavillu has varying lengths: three and a half feet, four feet and four and a half feet.
First, the wood is polished smooth, and then the background colours, red and yellow, are painted on the bow. Red is painted on the front side, where the paintings will be later added, and yellow is painted on the back side of the Onavillu.
Then, miniature paintings are added using five natural colours: white, yellow, black, blue and red. The miniature paintings often depict the Dashavatara stories, the ten avatars of lord Vishnu. Onavillu are made as a set of six pairs, each depicting a specific avatar story. Finally, after the paintings are done, a coat of varnish is painted over the bow, giving it a sheen.
Kerala Mural Paintings and Onam
Flower Girls, Kerala Mural Painting by Adarsh
Kerala mural is a unique art form that originates from Kerala. It’s an ancient art form that goes back as far as the 15th century A.D. Even though Kerala murals originated as a temple art form, in recent decades, it has evolved into a versatile art form used in wall hangings, clothes, bags and fashion accessories.
Onam festivities are often depicted in Kerala mural paintings. The legend of Mahabali and Vamana is a theme explored in Kerala murals. In modern times, Kerala murals are frequently used in festive decorations, appearing on billboards and print advertisements.
Handloom and Textile Art
Image Courtesy: Thanathu Kaitharikada
The off-white handloom textiles are a popular attire during the Onam festivities. These delicate handloom textiles, embellished with golden threads at the borders, are often known as Kasavu saree and Kasavu mundu. In the past few decades, Kerala murals have found a prominent place in the traditional Onam attire. Kerala murals often embellish Kasavu sarees and shirts. It’s interesting how Kerala mural, an art that’s traditionally painted on temple walls, has evolved into a fashion statement during Onam.
Onam & Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race
Image Courtesy: Ronald Tagra, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Kerala is a land of lakes. During the Onam season, the lakes of Kerala become the venue for an exciting game, the snake boat races. Kerala has many snake boat racing competitions, and the most popular one is the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race, established in 1952. The Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race is often conducted in the second week of August, just before Onam. In a way, these grand boat race competitions kick-start the Onam festivities.
Snake boats are long, narrow canoes that can carry around 100 rowers. These canoes are made in such a way that rowers can attain high speeds. During the time of Onam, many clubs around Kerala, especially in the Kuttanad region of Kerala, conduct a snake boat race competition.
Snake Boat Decorations
Snake boats of Kerala aren’t just famous for their speed, but also for their beauty. Each snake boat is decorated with elaborate woodwork and brasswork. The brass work is often done on the prow (the raised, pointed edge) of the snake boat to impart aesthetic appeal to the boat. The wooden carvings are intricate and often include ornamental motifs like flowers and geometric patterns. Brass embellishments, colourful tassels, and flower garlands are also attached to the snake boat to enhance its beauty.
Image Courtesy: Varghesepunnamada, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
The wooden and brass embellishments of the snakeboats give them an aesthetic appeal. Hence, people like to keep the models of snake boats as a decorative item in their homes. The models have varying lengths, from a few feet to a few centimetres. They are also made in miniature forms to keep in small spaces, like in a car or on a tabletop, or even hanging on a key chain. Snakeboat models are a popular gift item in Kerala.
Conclusion: Onam, a Vibrant Festival with Rich Artistic Tradition
Onam is the most popular festival in Kerala. For every Keralite, Onam evokes happiness and nostalgic memories. It’s a festival that’s so deeply embedded within the social fabric of Kerala. Many Kerala art traditions like Pookalam (floral carpets), Onavillu (the ceremonial bow), Kerala Murals, Pulikali paintings, and Snakeboat decorations have their roots in the festival of Onam.
Onam has a great cultural significance in the life of Keralites inside and outside Kerala. It’s a festival that brings Malayalis across the world together. It’s a festival of unity, prosperity and hope for a new year.
We wish you a happy Onam!
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