ONAM
THE SYMPHONY BETWEEN HUMANS AND NATURE
CELEBRATION OF COURAGE
Kerala, the land of charm, has many attractions to be cherished in one’s lifetime. The most important one is the festival of Onam, which is celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam every year. In the Gregorian calendar, it falls during August- September. It is marked by all sections of the society irrespective of class, caste or religion. Yes, maanushar ellaarum onnupole (like all humans are alike).
Onam is based on an ancient myth of Mahabali, an asura king who ruled the place once and still visits his kingdom every year. During his reign, people spared no pain to become prosperous and show their king that they were happy.
Onam is celebrated during the spring season, after the ravages of the monsoon, when all the flowers are in full bloom. By that time, the paddy harvest will be over, and people will be in the mood for relaxation. Onam is more of a fertility festival with dreams of an egalitarian society. It plays a significant and integrating role in the social polity of Kerala. It is a time when a common platform of actions is laid down to the rulers and the people of the diverse independent principalities, an interaction model for all belonging to different ethnic groups and statuses. It helped the people from all classes and caste dream a shared dream, a dream of the past, and a dream of the future that they would like to have.
Just like Onam moulds the socio-polity of the State, it also has a huge connection to the environment. Specifically, the microclimate of Kerala, the State of mountains, valleys and beaches. Kerala is one of its kind in the world when it comes to the socio-political status of people, as well as climatic aspects. It is home to the rarest of rare collections of flora and fauna, which is nowhere to be seen on the planet (thanks to the Monsoon and Western ghats). Onam is the festival that makes use of all the ethnicity nature holds in the State. In other words, Onam is a festival where the harmony of human-nature behaviour is etched.
Onam — Significance of Nature
India is a place of diversities, where nature and myth play an essential role in shaping its societies. The togetherness of the people, nature and legends can be seen in all its festivals. The feeling of oneness and joy of older generations are passed to the next by these celebrations. Most of the festivals have their origin in agriculture, having elements of nature and traditions. Like that, Onam explains the relationship between humans, nature and culture. It is a time when all aspects of natural and endemic origins are celebrated. From Onakodi (new clothes) to Athapookalam (designed flower bed), raw materials of Sadya to the Pulikali and Snake boat race, all the Nature’s elements have their role to play
Athapookkalam is one such symbol of the togetherness of humans and nature. More than an exhibition of floral designs, it depicts a strong relationship with nature, where all the flowers used are native and endangered. Flowers that blossom in the home garden are used in making the floral carpet. The main one is Thumba (Leucas Aspera), the fragile pristine white flower considered a symbol of purity and sanctity just like Onam.
Tulsi (Ocimum sanctum), Krishnakireedam (Clerodendrone paniculata), red Hibiscus etc., form the following layers of the floral carpet. Kakkapoo contributes to the greenish-blue tinge to the pookkalam. Even the minute blooms of Mukkutti are used to add a dash of yellow to the marvel. Many other flowers, an essential part of Kerala’s ecosystem, are also used in every Athapookkalam. All these are used without harming an inch of our earth but with utmost care. Each floral carpet is a miniature replica of the floral wealth around us. Nowadays, most of these flowers are diminished into the countrysides and to the gardens of people who deliberately make an effort to conserve them. Habitat loss and alien species invasion have also contributed to the extinction of our native flowers. This festival of Nature embraces the forgotten blooms every year.
Just as the monsoon bids adieu to south India, when the sky and water clear, the gigantic snake boats start their rally in the beautiful backwaters of Kerala. The music of people singing in one voice comes from nowhere and starts reverberating in our ears. It is not just the oneness we are feeling, but the celebration of our natural water bodies.
Like how we get ready in colours during the Onam time, nature also paints the State in more colours than we can imagine. The colours of Nature.
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