How to celebrate Onam in your apartment?
Onam, the biggest and most popular harvest festival is just round the corner. It is the most splendid festival celebrated by the people of Kerala. On this day, one can see colourful hues of flower patches on the ground in every home, display of mouth-watering dishes and elegant snake boat races. Considering that most families living in cities stay in apartments, there are limitations with regards to the manner in which they can celebrate Onam. Hence there are unique ways in which Onam can be celebrated in apartments.
Let us first have a sneak peek of the significance of the festival:
Onam has a legendary significance, wherein the festival is celebrated to welcome the king Mahabali whose spirit is said to visit Kerala during the period of Onam. It is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam (the first month of the Malayalam calendar year). The Onam carnival lasts for about four to ten days and is followed by feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and floral arrangements.
Here are a few ideas to celebrate Onam in your apartment;
Community formation for celebration:
The apartment management can organise an event within the apartment premises, wherein they can form a community and invite people to celebrate the festival with pomp and gaiety.
Create an Athapookkalam in the apartment:
“Athapookkalam” or “Onapookkalam” is one of the important characteristics of Onam celebration. Pookkalam (flower carpet) is an intricate and colourful floral arrangement laid on the floor. This tradition of decorating Pookkalam is very popular and is followed as a custom in every family during the ten day long Onam festival celebrations. The apartment management can invite people to create pookkalam during the ten-day-long of Onam and they can also conduct a Pookkalam competition on “Thiruvonam“, which is the main and ending day of Onam.
Organise a feast in the apartment:
There are innumerable ways through which one can serve the “Onasadya” which is the most impressive part of Onam and is the nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. One can serve this delicious meal to guests at home, organise a party and offer the feast or initiate a progressive meal, where each person in an apartment can prepare one course each have it together. Ensure that one serves this delicious meal on a banana leaf in a traditional way.
Plan a party to watch the snake boat race on the television:
The tradition of snake boat race is still practised with great pomp and show in various parts of Kerala. These races are telecasted on various channels. To add charm and spirit to the festival, one can invite all his/her neighbours to watch the snake boat race in his/her apartment.
Onam games in the apartment:
The festival has a renowned tradition of playing related games known as Onakalikal (Onam games). Some of them are, Talappanthukali (played with a ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Pulikali (Tiger/Leopard play) Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. One can get the rules and norms of the games online in order to play at their apartment.
Cultural activities for women:
Women can indulge in cultural activities like creating Pookkalam and performing dance art forms like Thiruvathirakali and Kummattikali. An apartment can also hold a competition of different dance forms.
Onam fancy dress in an apartment:
This is one of the most interesting activities that one can indulge in to celebrate the spirit of Onam. Adults, children and senior citizens can take part in the Onam fancy dress competition and depict the significance of the festival.
Themed festival:
One can make this festival even more interesting by making it a themed festival wherein one can dress, cook and indulge in activities related to the theme.
Onam gift exchange:
One can give gifts to their loved ones on this day to make them feel special. Related gifts like Kerala attire, a Kerala meal voucher or strands of sweet smelling flowers can be gifted to their loved ones.
