Vibrant
and joyful festival of Onam is known by two different names in the state of
Kerala -
Thiru Onam or
Thiruvonam
and
Sravanmahotsav or
Sravanotsavam;
These are the names of the tenth day of Onam festivities. While the
colourful festival of Onam has not just names but a prescibed set of rituals
and traditions allotted for each day of the ten-day-festival. These events
and small rituals is what makes Onam so special and endearing.
Thiruvonam
The tenth and the most important day of Onam celebrations is known as Thiru
Onam or the Tiru Onam. Here Thiru or Tiru stands for sacred, holy, beautiful
or auspicious and is equivalent of 'Sri' in Hindi. It is so called as the
day is the most significant of all, for the people of Kerala.
Sravanmahotsav
The festival of Onam is celebrated on the full moon day in asterism Sravana
in the month of August-September. This asterism was sacred to Lord Vishnu.
And as King Mahabali was a great devotee of Lord Vishnu the day became
sacred for the people of Kerala.
Ten days of Onam
- The first day of Onam is called Atham
and is of great significance. People start making Pookalam from this
day and wait for Maveli to visit their house. A colourful procession
Athachamyam is also carried in Kochi to mark the arrival of Onam.
- The second day of Onam is called Chithira.
There are no major customs for this day. Girls add more flowers to
the already existing Pookalam and give it a more colourful design.
- Third day of Onam is called Chothi
or Chodi. People indulge in shopping on this day and make every
effort to see that nothing is left undone for the day of Onam.
- Fourth day of Onam is called Vishagam
or Visakam. With a few days left for Thiru Onam excitement is
palpabale amongst the people. Women get busy in making prior
preparations of the grand meal called Onasadya.
- Fifth day of Onam is called, Anizham.
The major highlight of this day is the grand race called Vallamkali
which takes place on the banks of the river Pampa at Aranmulla.
- Sixth day of Onam is called Triketta
or Thriketa. A large number of cultural programmes are organised in
various parts of the state as a general atmosphere of excitement and
mirth prevails.
- Seventh day of Onam is called Moolam.
Markets are abuzz with activity on this day as a large number of
people do their last bit of shopping. Pookalam gets an even more
interesting design with fresh flowers.
- Eighth day of Onam is called Pooradam.
On this day people make clay idols in the shape of small pyramids
called a called a Ma. As the idol is created on the day of Pooradam,
it is also called Poorada Uttigal.
- Ninth day of Onam is called Utradam
or Uthradam. This is a significant day as it is a penultimate day to
Thiruvonam. In some places celebrations begin from the day of
Utradam only.
- Tenth day of Onam is called Thiruvonam
or Sravanotsav. This is the considered to be the most
important and auspicious day. People believe that it is on this day
that the spirit of King Maveli comes to visit his people in the
state of Kerala. Each of these two names has a special significance
for the people of Kerala. However, some scholars believe that the
two names are related and the now popular Thiru Onam comes from
Sravanotsavam.
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