Just like Diwali, Eid, and Christmas, people celebrate several festivals across India. India has rich and diverse cultures and traditions followed by people of various parts of the country. Children will come across the names of some of these festivals like Pongal, Onam, and Ugadi, which are commonly celebrated in South India. Whether it is someone in the neighbourhood who celebrates the festivals with gusto, or some classmates who belong to the culture, children might know about many of these festivals through community interactions.
However, since some festivals are celebrated only regionally, not all children would know about Onam and its significance. However, as we live in a culturally diverse country, it is important to be aware of and appreciate all the traditions that are followed throughout the country. Teachers often ask children to write an essay on various festivals. Onam is one such important festival. Let’s help your child write an essay on Onam in English.
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Key Points To Remember When Writing An Essay On Onam
To help your child learn to write creatively would require some preparation and guidance. A few things to remember when writing an essay on Onam are listed below:
- Discuss the importance of celebrating festivals.
- List down some interesting facts about the Onam.
- Discuss how the festival is celebrated.
- Write a conclusion about the significance of the festival.
5 Lines On Onam
Writing an engaging essay on Onam in English can be a fun and educational experience for kids. This example will help young learners craft a concise and meaningful 5-line Onam essay for class 1 and 2 kids that captures the essence of this vibrant festival:
- Onam is a famous festival celebrated in Kerala, India, marking the homecoming of King Mahabali.
- A harvest festival lasts ten days, typically in August or September.
- The festival includes various activities, such as boat races, traditional dances, and elaborate feasts known as Sadhya.
- People decorate their homes with colourful flower arrangements called Pookalam.
- Onam is a time for family gatherings, cultural events, and showcasing Kerala’s rich traditions.
10 Lines On Onam
Children in lower primary classes are generally asked to write just a few lines on Onam as a topic. To help kids write an essay for classes 1 and 2, follow the below sample as a guideline that will make writing about the subject a breeze.
- Onam is a major festival celebrated in Kerala in August or September.
- People celebrate the festival to remember the generosity and prosperity of King Mahabali.
- King Mahabali attained Moksha after successfully passing one of Lord Vishnu’s tests where he was disguised as a Brahmin.
- Mahabali requested the Lords to let him return to his homeland once every year. This homecoming of the great King Mahabali is celebrated annually as Onam.
- The celebration of Onam is in the first month of Chingam as per the Malayalam calendar.
- It is also a harvest festival and people celebrate it by enjoying a great feast.
- People decorate their houses with flowers for Onam and make rangoli.
- The festival is a celebration of ten days, with the first and the last day being very special.
- Women perform a traditional folk dance called Kaikotikali.
- Onam is celebrated with great enthusiasm in Kerala and is a beautiful festival.
Paragraph On Onam
Children in classes 1 and 2 will have to write a paragraph about the given topic. The below template could help as a good guide:
Onam is a festival celebrated with a lot of enthusiasm in Kerala. This festival is celebrated in August and September every year. The festival signifies the annual homecoming of the great ruler King Mahabali to his homeland to celebrate his kingdom’s prosperity. The king had attained Moksha from Lord Vishnu when visited the king in the form of a tiny Brahmin to test his character, but the king requested the Lord to let him return to his homeland once every year. This is the legend behind Onam. The months of August and September are also a period of harvest in Kerala. Thus, people from the state celebrate Onam to thank the Lord for the abundance of crops. People make rangolis with flowers and perform their traditional dance in colourful attires. Onam is a bright and colourful festival.
Short Essay On Onam
An essay for classes 1, 2 and 3 would require students to write elaborately on a topic, streamline their thoughts into a structure, and put them in words engagingly. If you wish to guide your child to write a paragraph in 150-200 words on Onam, go through the template below:
Onam is a grand festival in the Malayalam and Malayalee culture. The festival is a 10-day celebration with many cultural activities like KaikotiKalli, Pulikali, Kummatikali, boat races and tug of war across Kerala. The festival is celebrated in August and September to mark the homecoming of King Mahabali to revisit his prosperous homeland. King Mahabali received Moksha from Lord Vishnu when he visited the kind in the avatar of a tiny Brahmin. Happy with his strong character and generosity, the Lord granted him the request of letting him return to his homeland once every year. It is this event that is celebrated as Onam in Kerala. The most interesting part of the Onam festival is the grand feast that is prepared. This elaborate meal, called Sadya, is served on a plantain leaf. People also decorate their courtyards with rangolis made from flowers. The festival’s first and last days are the most important. Onam is also known as the harvest festival as crops grow in abundance during this month. A host of colours and traditions, Onam is a unique festival celebrated once a year in Kerala with enthusiasm.
Long Essay On Onam In English
For writing a long essay, children need to cover many thoughts and ideas along with factually accurate details to make a good composition which is fun to read. Here is a sample that may help your child:
Onam is an important festival celebrated in Kerala. The festival has a lot of significance in the Malayali culture and an interesting legend behind the celebrations.
History And Significance Of Onam
Onam is a festival that celebrates the homecoming of King Mahabali. He was known for his generosity and strong character. He was very proud of his acquisitions and the prosperity of his kingdom. Lord Vishnu visited his court in the form of a tiny Brahmin. The tiny Brahmin asked the king for three pieces of land that his feet could cover. Seeing the tiny form, the king immediately agreed to this request. It was then that the Lord expanded his form to large proportions. With his first step, he covered the entire Earth; with the second step, he covered the whole sky. When he had no more space left for his third step, King Mahabali recognised the power of the Lord, stepped down and bowed below the Lord, offering his own head for Lord Vishnu’s third step. The great ruler attained Moksha and asked permission to visit his kingdom once a year to enjoy looking at the country’s prosperity. To celebrate this homecoming of King Mahabali, people celebrate Onam. In some parts of Kerala, some people dress up as King Mahabali to help children understand the festival’s significance. Kerala comes alive during the festival of Onam with celebrations spreading over ten days and families enjoying elaborate meals, making rangolis with flowers, and other festivities like dance, races, and cultural events all over the state.
The 10 Days Of Onam
Onam is celebrated for over ten days with cultural programmes, dance performances and floral arrangements like rangoli. Below are the main festival traditions:
- Day 1 – Atham: On this day, people take an early bath, offer prayers and make rangoli with flowers called pookalam in front of their homes to welcome the king.
- Day 2 – Chithira: On the second day, people add two more layers of orange and yellow flowers to the pookalam
- Day 3 – Chodhi: People add another layer of flowers, and buy new clothes and jewellery.
- Day 4 – Vishakam: This day marks the beginning of the feast called Onam Sadhya. A traditional nine-course meal comprising 11-26 items is served on a banana leaf.
- Day 5 – Anizham: The traditional snake race called Vallamkali is held on this day.
- Day 6 – Thriketa: People migrated to other places to visit their ancestral homes.
- Day 7 – Moolam: Families visit each other, and Pulikali takes place.
- Day 8 – Pooradam: People add fresh flowers to the pookalam and exchange gifts.
- Day 9 – Uthradam: Celebrations peak on this day as King Mahabali arrives
- Day 10 – Thiruvonam: On the last day, people make rangolis on the entrances of their homes with rice batter, and people light fireworks in the evening.
Major Attractions And Festivities
Onam celebrations are like a carnival spread over days. Some major attractions and festivities celebrate togetherness apart from the religious ceremonies. A few festivals are:
- Pookalam: Rangoli is made with flowers by laying down ten flowers. With time, people have started adding more flowers, too.
- Dance: Pulikali, Kathakali, and Kaikotikali are some popular dances performed by men and women.
- Onam Sadhya: A lavish feast is prepared and served on a plantain leaf. People prepare more than 20 dishes with the harvest of the year.
- Vallamkali Boat Race: A traditional race is organised in the river Pampa. Boats are decorated and rowed by hundreds of men.
- Elephant Procession: Elephants are decorated with flowers and ornaments and paraded in temples.
What Will Your Child Learn From The Essay On Onam?
A composition on Onam will teach your child about the unique culture of Kerala and the importance of one of the ten avatars of Vishnu. The Lord took this avatar to tell people to remain grounded and not let their success ride in their heads.
FAQs
1. What is Pookalam?
Pookalam is a rangoli with flowers made to welcome King Mahabali with a riot of colours.
2. What Message Does Onam Festival Give?
The festival marks the celebration of a glorious past and teaches us that to realise a dream, we need to put in the effort. Giving, loving, sharing and celebrating together is the essence of Onam.
Children will love creative writing if it is streamlined and taught to them with the proper guidance. We hope these samples help your child in their essay-writing assignment.
Also Read:
Holi Essay for Children
Essay on Festival of India
Diwali Essay for Children
