Onam for Beginners: A Comprehensive Guide to Understanding the Festival

If you have some idea about Onam but are not yet fully clear about what this is all about, then this is the right place for you to be. Onam is one of the greatest festivals in Kerala and is full of enthusiasm, colour, and cultural values. But what makes the Onam festival different from any other festival? 

How is the Onam festival celebrated, and how can one make the occasion more meaningful and environmentally friendly? This blog will give a brief idea about the Onam celebration, Onam Sadhya, and how one can celebrate eco-friendly Onam celebration using green products.

What is Onam?

Onam is a harvest festival and is celebrated for ten days in the state of Kerala, it has legends that mention the demon king Mahabali in the backdrop of the function. According to legends, Mahabali was a great and kind king, and the period of his reign is identified as the golden period of Kerala. It strictly relates to the festival that is associated with prosperity and thanksgiving for the harvest.

The Onam festival is observed in August or September, and the features of the festival are rituals, dance and music programs, banquets, and flower carpets. Each day in Onam is linked with some or the other occasion, and the final day is Thiruvonam, which is the most important day of Onam.

Key Traditions of Onam Celebration

Onam has its origin, and it’s a festival in Kerala. This celebration is also marked by some practices that depict togetherness and joy among the people. The most famous attraction of Onam is the Pookalam, which is a floral decoration made in the form of a carpet with various patterns. The families prepare the most beautiful Pookalam using fresh flowers as a warm welcome to King Mahabali. 

It also has the conventional style of dance, such as Kathakali and Thiruvathira, in which the actors narrate myths and legends using their body movements. Sailing races, most particularly the Vallamkali or snake boat race, are awaited festivals of Onam, where teams paddle large wooden boats in unison to the tune of songs. This is one of the most thrilling water races that gives out the essence of the maritime achievements of the state of Kerala and is participated in by hundreds of thousands of people.

Onam Sadya is a compulsory item that can be prepared and served on banana leaves during the Onam festival. This meal has more than twenty dishes on the menu, and the items found in this meal include rice, curries, pickles, and Payasam, which is the dessert. It is a perfect portrayal of the style of food preparation that is common in the place, which is Kerala.

How to Celebrate an Eco-Friendly Onam

Since many festivals generate much waste, more people are looking forward to having a green Onam this time. Many people are affected by the thought that it is impossible to celebrate the festivities without polluting the environment, but it is very possible to celebrate the festivities to the required standards without polluting the environment.

It is better to make Pookalam with flowers gathered from the area or use flowers arranged in vases. This way, banana leaves are more suitable for use instead of plastic plates that are used to serve Onam Sadya and are easily disposed of.

For lighting, it is best to use clay diyas rather than electrical or plastic ones, which are available in the market. These diyas also provide a traditional look to the place and also save electricity bills. This is because it is recommended that one should wear natural fabric clothes like cotton and hemp instead of synthetic fabrics for a green celebration.

Sustainable products to Enhance Your Onam celebration

Onam is a festival that can be made more interesting and special in the sense that some measures can be taken that would make it an eco-friendly festival. These are the three environmentally friendly products that should fit well within the theme of the festival.

• Bamboo Amplifier Mobile Stand & Pen Holder

It is recommended to have the Bamboo Amplifier Mobile Stand & Pen Holder in your home because it is useful in many ways, such as holding an Onam music system, and is not bulky. This bamboo amplifier is natural and does not need electricity to produce a loud sound, and hence this amplifier has zero waste.

• Clay Planters for Home Décor

This is an ornamental planter that can be used during Onam to enhance the beauty of your home decoration. The clay planters are suitable for planting traditional Tulsi plants or for using flowers during festivals, as they augment the look and feel of the planters and are also environmentally friendly.

• Shwet Pure White Hemp Bedsheet with Pillow Cases

If you wish to make your home a warm house for this Onam, it is better to use the Shwet Pure White Hemp Bedsheet with Pillow Cases since it is environmentally friendly. Hemp fabric is strong, moisture-absorbent, and organic, thus making it appropriate to use in making festive bedding that is both comfortable and organic.

Final Thoughts: Celebrate Onam Mindfully

Onam is the time to spend with family members and also to be happy and thankful to them. It is possible to celebrate Onam; at the same time, one can be conscious and selective when it comes to purchasing items that will be needed to prepare for the occasion.

If you are in search of quality and durable green products, then you are in the right place. Welcome to Brown Living, a store that has a vast variety of products that will assist in making life easier and also friendly to the environment. Regardless of whether it is home decoration, cosmetics, kitchen utensils, or other products, there are very significant changes that can be made.

Onam, that is the festival that is close at hand, how do you plan to celebrate it? If you would like to make a few changes for the better, would it be possible for you to go green? That is why, with every step towards sustainability, more meaning is given to the term festival.