Have you ever traveled to India? Have you ever participated in India's colorful festivals? Stay with Saeed News to learn about one of India's festivals called Onam.
India is a country with thousands of unique traditions, customs, and rituals, including various ceremonies, festivals, holidays, and observances, each with its own special calendar. Festivals are among the most important ceremonies in India. This country hosts various types of festivals, which are generally accompanied by dance, light, and color. One such festival, Onam, is an opportunity for the people of Kerala to gather together regardless of their religious beliefs or social status, and to celebrate their rich culture by participating in a ten-day festival filled with folklore events, cultural activities, art, food, sports, and gift-giving.
Onam Festival
Onam is a harvest festival that is one of the ancient ceremonies in the land of many rituals, India. It is held annually on September 12th, corresponding to the 21st of Shahrivar in the Persian calendar, in Trissur, Kerala, India, lasting for ten days. The festival, known as Onam, is a thanksgiving for a good and healthy harvest. During this festival, there may be over 600 participants with bodies painted to resemble tigers. The Onam celebration takes place in a forested area, and the sight of people moving with their colorful tiger-shaped bodies amidst the trees is spectacular and exciting. During the festival, artists paint the bodies of farmers, landowners, and others who wish to participate, in the shape of a tiger, leopard, or lion. Onam is the biggest festival of the year in the state of Kerala in southern India. People decorate their homes with a specific flower arrangement known as Onnapookkalam, wear new clothes, and prepare special festival foods. Additionally, the first day of this festival is called Atham, and the last day is Thiruvonam.
Onam Legend
The legend of Onam is related to the return of the semi-divine figure Mahabali, whose story is similar to the "Holika" story in the Holi festival. In this celebration, the victory of hope over despair is honored, but unlike the Holi festival, the semi-god Mahabali is treated with full respect. In recent years, Onam has transcended its religious significance and become one of the largest festivals in Kerala.
How Onam Is Celebrated
On this day, participants prepare themselves by painting their bodies to resemble tigers, leopards, or lions, and they mimic the movements of these animals as they proceed toward the center of the performance. They perform acrobatic movements and twists to evoke the majestic, powerful, and mysterious movements of wild animals. The group movements, with their colorful bodies, flowers draped around their necks, tiger whiskers, sharp teeth, and long tails, are all painted using natural and regional colors, showcasing the local products. Yellow, black, white, pink, purple, blue, red, green, and other colors, along with terrifying animal masks, bring life to the celebration. Percussion instruments add excitement to the battle-like performances of these wild tigers, creating an exhilarating atmosphere that draws spectators into the ancient tradition. Men and boys perform fast-paced movements with incredible energy, as though they are defending a sacred space or warding off an evil presence.
The procession continues toward the ancient Vadakkunnathan Temple, which covers over 100 acres of lush land, forming a beautiful park. After paying respects to the temple and Shivana, the participants slowly retreat and sit calmly on the ground. This ceremony was once associated with tiger hunting. The beauty and excitement of the event make time fly for the tourists watching. Even in the middle of the night, they remain immersed in the atmosphere of this ceremony. Interestingly, local television and media broadcast the event live, making significant efforts to preserve their cultural and traditional heritage. During the event, many paintings of tigers and leopards created by Indian artists are sold. Once the ceremony concludes, farmers believe that they have protected their future crops from potential damage and harm. With the money earned from the sale of their crops and participation in the event, they provide a good holiday for themselves and their families.
Indian festivals are among the most fascinating in the world, and by traveling to this country, you can create beautiful moments for yourself.
