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| Irupathiyettam Onam ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ടാം ഓണം | |
|---|---|
| Status | Active |
| Genre | Cultural, Harvest |
| Begins | 28th day after Thiruvonam |
| Venue | Oachira Parabrahma Temple |
| Location(s) | Oachira, Kollam district, Kerala |
Irupathiyettam Onam (ഇരുപത്തിയെട്ടാം ഓണം; lit. "Twenty-Eighth Onam") is a post-harvest festival celebrated in the Onattukara region of Kerala, India. The event occurs exactly 28 days after Thiruvonam, the primary day of the Onam festival. The celebration is defined by the Oachira Kalakettu, a ritual involving the procession of bull effigies to the Oachira Parabrahma Temple[1].
Significance and customs[edit | edit source]
The festival is traditionally categorized as the "Onam of the cattle" and is linked to the agrarian history of the region[2]. It functions as a ritualistic thanksgiving to livestock for their role in the preceding harvest cycle. Unlike the standard Onam celebrations that commemorate the legend of Mahabali, Irupathiyettam Onam emphasizes the socio-economic relationship between the farming community and their cattle[3].
Kalakettu ritual[edit | edit source]
The central feature of the festival is the Kalakettu (lit. "tying of the bull"). Local administrative units known as karas sponsor and construct large-scale effigies of bulls, known as Kettu Kaalakal[1].
- Construction: The effigies are built using a framework of wood and bamboo, layered with straw, and covered in white or colored cloth[3]. Decorations typically include traditional ornaments, mirrors, and fabric hangings.
- Procession: These effigies are mounted on wheeled platforms and pulled by residents to the temple grounds. The height of the effigies can exceed 30 feet, representing the resources of the sponsoring kara[4].
Venue[edit | edit source]
The festival culminates at the Padanilam (battlefield), an open ground surrounding the Oachira Parabrahma Temple. The temple is noted for the absence of a traditional sanctum sanctorum, as it is dedicated to the concept of Para Brahma[5]. During the festival, the bull effigies are presented at the site as a symbolic offering, aligning agricultural traditions with the temple's spiritual framework[6].
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Ochira Kalakettu of Ochira Parabrahma Temple". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Oachira Kalavela - Onam Rituals". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Oachira Parabrahma Temple". DTPC Kollam. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Grand finale to Oachira festival today". The Hindu. 8 November 2015. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Oachira Parabrahma Temple". Kerala Temples Info. Retrieved 11 February 2026.
- ↑ "Oachira Kalavela". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 11 February 2026.