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All you Malayalees in the house, your favorite festival is just around the corner. That’s right – Onam! For those familiar with Onam, you know how much joy it brings to everyone. The rest of you who have missed out on this celebration, let’s see why it is a grand celebration and why Malayalis proudly celebrate it worldwide, irrespective of religion or caste. Onam is called the festival of harvest and bounty and is celebrated in Kerala. Malayalees worldwide prepare a wide range of dishes, dress up in the traditional cream and golden attire, and decorate their houses with pretty flowers.
Legend has it that it is the celebration of the home-coming of the demon king Mahabali. Though evil, this mythical king was believed to be generous and kind-hearted. Once a year, Mahabali visits Kerala to celebrate the harvest with his people. Keralites welcome him with pomp and show by preparing an elaborate feast, dressing up and performing folk dances. During a global pandemic, these celebrations might not be possible because of the safety concerns but here’s how you can celebrate it with your children without compromising on its festivities:
1. Encourage Them To Help With The Sadya
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Let’s face it. The sadya is the best part about Onam. You don’t have to be a Malayalee to love this delicious spread of elaborate dishes. More than 20 delicacies are prepared in traditional Kerala style, including 3 curries, 2 sweets, and other mouth-watering dishes. The food is served on a banana leaf. You could ask your kids to help you prepare a few dishes and lay the leaves for the scrumptious spread.
2. Get Their Creative Juices Flowing With The Pookalam
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Another significant part of Onam is the flower decorations, also called the pookalam. Think of it as a fancy rangoli design but with flowers instead of rangoli powder. Your kid might not be able to make a huge one, but he/she could help you with yours. Or they could make a separate smaller one. This is the chance for your kids to show off their creative skills, so encourage them to go all out and not hold back.
3. Learn About The Significance Of The Festival
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People assume that Onam is all about the food and decorations, but they forget its real significance. After enjoying a delicious meal, you could huddle your kids and talk about the importance of the festival and the tale of Mahabali. They might be fascinated with the history and significance of the festival, like most of us are when we hear it for the first time.
4. Brush Up On The Culture
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There is no rule that Onam is restricted to only people from Kerala. Everyone is welcome to celebrate it because of the joy it spreads. In Kerala, the celebration of Onam lasts for up to 10 days. There are several boat races called vallamkali, tiger plays called pulikali and other practices rich in culture that take place during this festival. Because of the times we are going through, it might not be possible to celebrate it in such an enormous fashion, but you could always use the internet to your advantage and watch videos of the celebrations. In other parts of the country, the primary day of celebration is the Thiruvonam.
5. Flaunt Your Kerala Attire
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There is just something about the cream and golden Kerala saree that screams elegance. Don’t hesitate to doll up for the festival and get your kids to look their best Malayalee selves. The best part of this attire is that there is one for every kid. Your daughter will look like a little traditional princess in her cream and gold skirt, and your son will look no less than royalty in his Kerala mundu.
Sure, you won’t be able to witness the vallamkali and pulikali because we are amidst a global pandemic, but don’t let that stop you from celebrating this beautiful festival with your kids. Are you excited for Onam? Comment below and let us know your big plans for the festival.
