About:
Onam is a harvest festival mostly celebrated in the southern part of India by the keralite people. According to the Gregorian calendar it falls between August and September and is celebrated for 10 day's. The Malayalis in the world celebrate this hindi festival with great intrest.
Back Story:
This festival is celebrated to celebrate the visit of king Mahabali the demon king of satya yuga. The story says that, king Mahabali who belonged to the ancestry of king Hiranyakashyap, had conquered hell, heaven and earth by defeating all devas (God's) so they requested Lord Vishnu for help, but as Mahabali was a devotee of Vishnu he disagreed to defeat him. one day king Mahabali organized a yajna and decided to grant a wish to any sage/bhramin, so knowing this Lord Vishnu took the avtar of a saint named Vaman and wished for 3 piece of land as Mahabali granted his wish the sage becamed bigger and bigger in his 2 steps he covered everything which Mahabali ruled and for the 3rd step Mahabali asked the sage to keep the last step on his head, inspired by his devotion Lord Vishnu gave him a boon that he could visit his people on earth once in a year, so most of the Indians celebrate this rice harvest festival.
10 days of celebration:
The 10 days of onam starts in the month of chingam.
• 1st day of onam:
The 1st day is also known as Utraadam or Atham on this day people get up early in the morning and offers their prayers in the Temple's . The houses are cleaned and a rangoli made of flowers known as pokkalam is designed with a unique attraction to welcome king Mahabali's arrival. This creativity is done by all the womens of the house with men in support.
• 2nd day of onam:
The 2nd day of onam is also known as Chithira. On this day the flowers rangoli size is increased by adding more decorative flowers. Discussion of events happening during Onam is done.
• 3rd day of Onam:
The 3rd day of Onam is called as Chodi. The people of kerla celebrate this day by buying clothes and gifts for family and friends. Family get-togethers are held during this day. Market places are overcrowded by people buying all necessary item's required for celebration.
• 4th day of Onam:
The 4th day of Onam is called as Visakam. This is an auspicious day also. Known for onam sadya on Thiruonam . Most of the women's make the nutritious meal this day which includes 26 types of various dishes.
• 5th day of Onam:
The 5th day of Onam is called as Anizham. On this day a snake boat race called Valamkali boat race is held along the river bank of Pamba in Pathanamthitta.
• 6th day of Onam:
The 6th day of onam is called as Thriketta. On this day people gather to their home in their States. Schools are given public Holiday.
• 7th day of Onam:
The 7th day of onam is called as Moolam. On this day the design of pokkalam is changed by adding more beautiful flowers. The beginning of Onam sadya and various cultural dance are held in the state.
• 8th day of Onam:
The 8th day of onam is called as Pooradam. On this day a 3 idols having pyramid like structure of various shapes made from clay also known as Onathappan, which represents the 3 piece land aquired by vaman avtar of Lord vishnu are placed in the middle of the pokkalam. This day is also called as Pooradam uttigal.
• 9th day of Onam:
The 9th of Onam is called as Utradam. Also known as the eve of onam people buy fresh fruits and vegetables during this day to make onam sadya and increased decoration of pokkalam and inviting king mahabali in their house.
• 10th day of Onam:
The 10th day of Onam is called as Thiru Onam. On this day the whole Kerala wokes up early and decorates their houses and the final version of pokkalam is ready people wear new clothes and sign made from rice batter flour is applied on the entrance of the house to welcome king Mahabali, the complete state of kerala is converted into a colourful cultural extravaganza. People come to meet their families and greeting gifts and actively participating in various activities and delivering onam sadya.
The 26 food items in onasadya:
The meal mainly includes a vegetarian dishes on the plate :
• Pappadam:
It is a cracker made from rice flour and salt. It taste varies according to the flavour added to it.
• Uperi:
It is also known as banana chips. The bananas are sliced the deeped in turmeric and salt added mixture deep fried in oil to make it's chips.
• Sharkara Varatti:
It is a sweeter form of banana chips. Here jaggery, water, and rice flour is used for the dish.
• Inji Curry:
It is a sweet sour and spicy curry made from tamrind, ginger, green chillies and Jagerry.
• Mango curry:
It is a sweet and sour dish made from mangoes, red chillies, coconut milk, sugar and other spices mixed to form a sweet and sour curry.
• Narnaga curry:
It is a pickle more than a curry. It is made of lemons, ginger, grated coconut, turmeric, dry red chillies, tamrind extract, mustard seeds, curry leaves, water etc and needs time to get it's unique flavour.
• Pachadi:
It is a side dish made from grated beetroot or any vegetable, chopped chillies, mustard seed, curry leaves, yoghurt, coconut oil.
• Olan:
It is a dish made from coconut milk, cowpeas, mustard seeds, steamed rice, chopped ash gourd, salt and water.
•Elisseri:
It is also a main component dish served during onasadya. It is made from pumpkin, cowpeas, coconut paste and coconut oil, mustard seed and curry leaves.
•Aval:
It is a sweet dish made from poha (beaten rice) and also includes jaggery, black seesame seed, grated coconut, ginger powder, cardamom powder, channa dal, ghee, water.
• Thoran:
It is a side dish of sadya and can be made from cabbage, carrot, radish etc grated coconut, beans, mustard seed etc.
• Chor:
As it's the harvest festival, rice is the main ingredient and could be red or white rice salt and water as it is made traditionally in India.
• Parripu curry:
It is a curry made up of moong dal, red chillies, grated coconut, mustard seed, coconut oil, onions, and water, ghee and other spices etc.
•Chenna Mezhkkupuratti:
It is a healthy food which consists of medium prices of yam (suran), turmeric, salt, grated coconut, red chillies powder, fennel seed, onions, sprig curry leaves, garlic and cloves.
•Sambar:
It is the most famous dal of kerala, it is sour and sweet, made up pumpkin, drumstick, water, turmeric powder, mustard seed, salt, mixture of spices etc.
• Pulissery:
It is an authentic keralite dish made from buttermilk, grated coconut, grated cucumber, sliced ash gourd, onions, red chillies, fenugreek, seesame seed, mustard seed, curry leaves,salt.
•Kaalan:
It is a dish made of banana, yogurt, yam, red chillies powder, ghee, black pepper powder, roasted fenugreek seed, mustard seed, curry leaves, grated coconut.
•Morru Kachiyatha:
As the morru which means buttermilk is a special keralite recipe which consist of curd, water, red chillies finely chopped, ginger chopped, mustard and methi seed, coconut oil and salt.
•Kichadi:
It is also a yogurt dish which consist of cucumber finely chopped, green chillies finely chopped, gring coconut, dried red chillies.
• Rasam:
It is a delicacy of Kerala and mostly eaten with rice or as a soup, it consist of tomatoes, garlic, ginger, chopped red chillies, tamarind, salt and water etc. There are many ways to make it.
•Kootu Curry:
It is a keralite delicacy made from raw bananas, black Chana, grated coconut, red chillies which could wake up your taste buds.
• Neyy:
It is a homemade ghee poured on rice, parripu to improve it's flavours.
• Inji Thayir:
It is also a yogurt dish consisting of yogurt, sliced garlic, mustard seed, green chillies, dried red chillies, coconut oil, curry leaves, salt etc.
• Poovan Pazham:
Poovan is a variety of banana found in Kerala which is short, soft and sweet and is used in many sweet dishes.
• Palada Pradhaman:
It is a sweet dish similar to kher in northern side of India it is made from milk, rice and sugar.
• Pazham Pradhaman:
It is also a dessert sweet dish made from pazham/banana, jaggery, coconut milk, ginger powder, cardamom powder, cashew nut, ghee.
• Business strategies during onam:
- On this holy month one can earn through many businesses one of them includes fruits and vegetables selling, as many people are engaged in sadya it is very popular to start a fruits and vegetables stall.
- As pokkalam is a targeted attraction of this festival flower selling can be a trending option.
- As many people buy new clothes and various dances are performed so costumes of special varieties are required so clothes selling could be a better option.
- As the demand of ingredients related to kitchen and house cleaning is the main priority grocery stores can flourish well in these 10 days.
- As there are varieties of food served being a cool can be a honourable business as many people are switching towards swiggy or zomato these days.
- As boast racing is also an event held during the 10 days of onam, manufacturing and maintenance of boat's can a satisfactory skill based job.
- As many stage performances are performed so people need auditorium, stage, ground etc to sponsor their event, so such a business can be profitable.
Onam is a festival of celebrating the welcome of a great king from satyug who is brave, faithful and people favorite king. This festival is mostly celebrated in Kerala and is also an eve of enjoyment. The message of keeping our environment neat and clean is spread through the cleanliness maintained during the 10 days of onam and the taste of culture and tradition spread through this festival could enhance the enjoyment and excitement of everyone's mind. Many businesses are flourished during onam, now it's your turn to decide how would you enjoy or dedicate this fest?
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