Onam Celebration in Kerala brings immense joy and vibrant festivities, and the historic town of Guruvayur truly shines during this season. Guruvayur showcases the state’s rich cultural heritage through its passionate and enthusiastic Onam celebrations, rooted in agricultural traditions. Discover the unique customs and joyful moments of Onam in Guruvayur, and check out our recommended accommodations for a memorable stay in Guruvayoor.
Traditional Rules and Customs:
Onam festivals are rich in cultural and historical importance, especially in Guruvayur.
Below are some festivals and traditions related to Onam celebration in Kerala, Guruvayur:
1. Sadhya
Kerala’s rich cultural tradition is shown with the yearly feast known as Onam sadhya. There are a variety of dishes in the sadhya, such as rasam (spicy soup), avial (mixed vegetable dish), parippu (lentil soup), and sambar (lentil-based vegetable stew). Savory meals are balanced by sweet treats like payasam and kachchanthiri. The Onam sadhya experience is completed with thoran or stir-fried vegetables, and flavors like Appam, a thin pancake, and Idiyappam, a steamed rice.
2. Thiruvonam
Thiruvonam, the most famous day of Kerala’s Onam celebration, is an event filled with much happiness and celebrations. The end of the Onam Festival is celebrated with great excitement in thiruvonam. Kerala’s rich oral tradition is on full display as the day ends with an impressive series of celebrations that begin with a traditional puja and continue with a traditional Onam sadhya. The gateway of a noble King mahabali and the prevailing of good over evil are the two main symbols of thiruvonam.
3. Pookalam
A colorful and clear floral mandala, pookalam plays a vital role in the Onam celebration in Kerala. People create it using a variety of flowers, leaves, and petals, decorating the grounds of palaces and temples. The pookalam’s elaborate designs and themes represent both the spirit of Onam and the arrival of King Mahabali. Traditionally, families and communities design a new pookalam each day over nine days, culminating in the grand and beautiful Thiruvonam pookalam on the main day of the festival.
4. Pulikali (tiger dance)
During Onam celebrations in Kerala, the colorful and energetic Pulikali (tiger dance) becomes a captivating sight. Dancers at Guruvayur perform Pulikali wearing decorative lion outfits, enhanced with vibrant makeup and silk costumes. They mimic a lion’s moves in sync with the rhythmic beats of drums and other musical instruments, creating a thrilling performance. This traditional folk art expresses Kerala’s rich cultural heritage and symbolizes the triumph of good over evil. The performance usually fills the streets and temple grounds of Guruvayur, adding to the vibrant spirit of Onam.
5. Vallamkali (Boat Race)
Vallamkali, a traditional boat race in Kerala, takes center stage during Onam celebrations and beautifully highlights the state’s rich cultural history. Moreover, the event celebrates the strength, skill, and unity of boatmen who race through Kerala’s peaceful backwaters. As a result, thousands of viewers and participants gather to witness the thrilling competition. In addition, the festive energy surrounding Vallamkali adds a vibrant charm to the Onam season.
Kerala’s Onam celebrations are a rainbow of colors, flavors, and traditions that highlight the state’s rich cultural history. The Onam festival in Kerala is an unforgettable occasion because of this joyful display you purely must experience.