Onam Celebration 2023: Meaning, Onam Pookalam & Other Decoration Concepts for Home

Onam, the blissful annual harvest festival of Kerala, is here, and it’s time to saturate your home with a perfect aura of festivity. Onam festivities take place in the month of August-September for ten days; this year, it starts on August 20 and ends on August 31. No disproving the fact that traditions, rituals, colours, decor, fragilities and heartwarming festivities make a festival come alive. Keralites across the world rejoice in this festival with great pomp and show.

Today, we deliberate the status and history of Onam along with interesting Onam beautification concepts for home. So, join us to determine what this promising occasion grips and revel in the fervour of Onam celebrations.

Onam grips great significance in the Malayalam calendar since it means abundant harvest and marks the start of the new year. The festival rejoices in the return of King Mahabali or Maveli to Kerala as the expert king once ruled the state. 

• Atham

• Chithira

• Chodi

• Vishakam

• Anizham

• Thriketa

• Moolam

• Pooradam

• Uthradom 

• Thiruonam 

As per Hindu tradition, King Mahabali was a kind and substantial ruler of Kerala. People used to love their king. Lord Vishnu was directed to the earth by Devtas (gods of heaven) to finish the rule of Mahabali. Lord Vishnu took the avatar of Vamana and requested Mahabali for 3 feet of land. He acquired two steps to amount all the worlds and asked Mahabali for a room for his third step. To this, Mahabali obtainable his head to Vamana and requested him to put his foot on it. This enthralled Lord Vishnu, and as a result, he well-ordered Mahabali to rule till the Kali Yuga ends. Lord Vishnu also provided Mahabali with a boon to visit his kingdom every year. Accordingly, people in Kerala celebrate the Onam festival as the day of Mahabali’s homecoming to his kingdom. 

Onam Pookalam is the core of this festival's decorations. Pookalam is a craft of floral rangoli, and fresh flowers obviously have a connection to the festival since it is a harvest celebration with great implication. This rangoli design at the arrival or around the pooja unit gives off a lively vibe and a warm welcome to the guests and, of course, King Bali. From spiral, leaves and Ganesha to 3D, Om and Kathakali, there are numerous Onam Pookalam designs to choose from. Pick one that requests to your minds the most and goes well with your home cores.

Use lovely flower garlands, known as torans, to decorate your home's doorways and bare walls. Fresh mango leaves, marigolds, or jasmine can be used to form torans, which can then be hung at the front door. This is thought to repel bad vibes and bring good fortune home. Additionally, you can add a traditional touch to your porches or balconies during the Onam festivities by tying floral garlands around the pillars or grills.

Enlightening the intergalactic up is a great way to cheer up Onam decorations. Brighten up your home by lighting diyas, oil lamps and scented candles and let the environs shine in the love of festivities. It is said that lighted diyas benefit positivity entering your house. You can also invest in classic chandeliers, modern lamps and glamorous pendant lights to beautify the home design during Onam festivities and advance your home interiors with a personalised touch. Lights will surely double up the festive feel.

Kathakali is a famous outdated Kerala dance form with great importance in the philosophy of the state and Keralites. You can decorate your home with the beauty of the Kathakali face art on the wall or a wooden plank. This will add colours and vibrance to the understated decor of your home and add a sole flair to the setting. The illumination and ethnicity of this art will showcase your aesthetic taste and fill festive energy into the atmosphere.

Jazz up your living area or feasting table with a centrepiece inspired by the wealth of harvest. Gather some fresh flowers and position them in a glass bowl along with a few candles to infuse absolute festive glee. You can either use rose petals or make a group of assorted flowers to add colour to the interiors. It would be great if you could find a traditional bowl - this will add a classic festive flavour.

Colours, prints and patterns are the first things to strike our minds when thinking of creating our homes festive-ready. Work with Kerala-enthused traditional prints for cushion covers, throws, curtains, mats and even wall streamers to create a perfect festive atmosphere. Use bright and vibrant colours and Mundu fabric, which is the speciality of Kerala, to promote the charm of your living room.

We regularly forget our bedrooms while doing up our homes for celebratory times. This Onam, add a festive touch to your bedroom too in an outdated style. Embellish with bright, traditional prints, fresh Jasmine flower streamers and wonderful-smelling incense sticks. Consideration more on fresh floral prints - this will add a stimulating touch to the interiors, while enrage sticks will lend a soothing effect. opt for the outdated textile design of Kerala while buying furnishings.

So, this was the list of a few humble and easy ideas for Onam decoration at home. Device them into your home interiors and rejoice with Onam with great energy and enthusiasm. Also, make sure to dress in a Kasavu dhoti or Kerala saree and ornament yourself with traditional stuff to welcome Onam at home and get into the richness of this promising occasion.