Photo #1; Caption: The cover photo, carrying the ‘Pookkalam’, Mahabali, Ona Sadhya and two drummists.
Dear friends,
‘Onam’, the most famous celebration of Keralites (Malayalees globally) is a 10-day festival that denotes the harvest season and the end of monsoon. All the Malayalees take part in Onam, irrespective of caste and religion. In Kerala, the apex of this grand celebration happens at Trivandrum (Thiruvananthapuram) with colourful processions, floats, and different cultural and social activities (at multiple locations at the same time). Thiru Onam 2024 was on Sunday, the 15th September.
According to legend, Mahabali, a benevolent demon king, was granted a boon to visit his people once a year. His era was marked by peace, prosperity, and the absence of discrimination. The festival commemorates this mythical visit and celebrates the values of equality, community, and abundance.
On the Thiruvonam (Thiru Onam), the main Onam day (the 10th day), all the members of the family gather together to view the colourful “Pookkalam”, take photos and then enjoy the “Ona Sadhya”. It is believed that on this day, Mahabali is believed to visit the homes of his people. (Read More about Onam days…)
Usually at our homes, the two major activities are:
- Preparing the Pookkalam (the colourful decoration artistically created using different flowers and leaves) and serve
- Ona Sadhya (the traditional feast) will be served with different dishes on banana leaves.
The Pookkalam:
The preparation started two days in advance by giving instructions to our driver to buy different flowers of different colours (names of the flowers and colours were given). Our daughter designed the Pookkalam and though she was singly responsible for the execution, different family members helped her as per her instructions (including me 
). Along with her aunt (my wife’s sister), she started creating it by 9 am, which ended only by 2 pm. The flowers were bought by our driver directly from the flower market, a day in advance.
The Pookkalam had a diameter of almost 8 feet and was almost filling our VIP visitors’ hall (14 X 16 feet hall).
Photo #3; Caption: The Pookkalam, almost filling our VIP Visitors’ Hall.
The outlines were made first by placing flowers in appropriate positions and then the fillings were done. The mix of colours was decided and flowers were prepared accordingly. The photos will give you some ideas, I believe. You need to be involved in such a mission, then only you can feel the spirit of this floral decoration. Once the Pookkalam is ready, next is the cleaning process which is to be done very carefully, without disturbing the Pookkalam.
Photo #4; Caption: My daughter sitting inside the Pookkalam while creating the same. Photo #5; Caption: (1) Left-top: The Cleaning after the creation (2) Right-bottom: Pookkala + Excess flowers after the creation. (the images represent Mahabali & Snake Boat).
Ona Sadhya:
Actually, our Onam celebrations started with my wife cooking different dishes that can be prepared in advance on the first Onam (the previous day of Thiruvonam). Most of the pickles, fried items, Pappad, etc were cooked in advance.
Photo #6; Caption: Different dishes, at different stages of cooking - captured from our kitchen.
On Thiruvonam day, early morning she restarted cooking (after bath and Pooja); the rest of the dishes, including rice, were cooked fresh, and all the items were ready by 2 p.m.
Ona Sadhya presents a rich variety of vegetarian dishes, typically served on a banana leaf. An elaborate Ona Sadhya will have 4 to 6 groups of dishes, each with 4 items:
4 varieties of Achar (Pickles), 4 varieties of Pappadams, 4 varieties of Upperi (Banana Chips), 4 varieties of curries, 4 varieties of Payassams (Porridge like items), etc.
Photo #7; Caption: Single banana leaf ready to be served with rice. (salt is missing)
-
- Salt: Is served as the first item of the feast, on the banana leaf.
- Pickles (Achar): We had 3 pickles: Ginger, Lime and Mango based dishes.
- Banana Chips: Crispy, fried banana slices: we had 3 varieties: one jaggery-based Banana chips, quarter cut and full-round banana chips.
- Pappads: We had 2 varieties (big & Small rounds)
- Side dishes: We had 4 of them:
- Olan: A coconut milk & oil-based dish made with pumpkin and black-eyed peas. (right top on the leaf)
- Avial: A mixed vegetable dish cooked with coconut, seasoned with coconut oil and curry leaves. (Left-next on the leaf)
- Thoran: A stir-fried dish made with chopped vegetables, coconut, and spices. (Left-next on the leaf)
- Kichadi: A yoghurt-based salad with grated vegetables, flavoured with mustard seeds and curry leaves. (the pink dish)1. Main Curries:
- Parippu (Daal): Most of the South Indian feasts start with this dish along with ghee
- Sambar: A lentil-based vegetable stew flavoured with tamarind and spices, essential for balancing the meal.
- Pulisseri: A yoghurt-based curry with vegetables, and flavoured with pineapple, seasoned with mustard seeds and curry leaves.
- Rasam: A tangy, spiced soup made from tamarind, tomatoes, and spices.1. Rice: The staple of the meal, served with the above dishes - we had two varieties - brown rice & white rice.
Usually, the rice is served separately for each of the above main curries; and before curds, the Payasams will be served.
-
Payasams: Porridge-like Sweet desserts - We had two varieties - made from rice and milk (flavoured with cardamom) and dal (lentils) cooked in coconut milk, garnished with nuts.
-
Curds: We had curds and buttermilk, served after the Payasams.
Curds/Buttermilk mark the end of the feast.
Photo #8; Caption: (1) Top-Left: A typical plantain leaf ready to be served with rice. (2) Our dining table, ready with 6 banana leaves for lunch. (3) Serving in progress. (4) My brother after his first round of the curry. (The graphics represent Mahabali & two drummists)
Each dish brings its own unique taste, flavour and texture, creating a harmonious and festive experience, and this reflects Kerala’s culinary heritage.
For two days we had guests and we served lunch for 12 and 15 people; we also had a musical session where my daughter and my brother’s daughter sang songs. We thoroughly enjoyed all three days of celebrations - God was kind.
Do you have photo/s of your favourite festival? Which is your important festival?
Kindly add your photos, please.
Hope you enjoyed our Onam Celebrations; which of these events has impressed you the best - kindly mention it in your response! Thanks in advance.!!
