“Onam is considered to be a harvesting festival which is celebrated with great enthusiasm and splendour. It is celebrated on Chaturdashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Shravana.”
– Mahima Sharma, Times of India
A festival is a time for merriment. A time of exalted celebrations, to be enjoyed by people young and old. Onam celebrations in preschool can be fun and meaningful.
In India, we have a plethora of festivals. Grand occasions that are celebrated by one and all, regardless of their caste or creed.
Onam is one such festival that is primarily celebrated by Malayalis. They celebrate this festival as a means of welcoming their king Mahabali. It is believed that he makes an annual visit to the state of Kerala, during the Onam period. Onam is also regarded as the major Harvest Festival, and the celebrations last for 10 days. In today’s blog let us explore Onam activities for preschoolers and our beloved students.
In case you’re wondering, ‘When is Onam?’, here’s what you need to know about the upcoming Onam festival.
Onam 2024- The Dates
When is Onam this year? It’s on Thursday 5 September to Tuesday 17th September 2024.
The third and fourth Onam fall on the 16th and 17th of September 2024. Therefore, these are the dates where kids will be introduced to Onam celebrations in preschool.
5 Meaningful Onam Activities for Preschoolers
The best part about Onam, undoubtedly, is to see people come together and children being part of the celebrations. In this manner, Onam celebrations in preschool can be joyous and meaningful.
Here is a look at the best Onam Celebration Activities that will enhance that spirit of celebration on the momentous occasion of Onam.
- Making a Flower Rangoli (Athapookalam)
- Watching The Boat Racing
- Decorating Elephants
- Reading a Book
- Enjoying Onam Sadhya: A Cherished meal from Kerala
- DIY Tiger Mask (Pulikali Mask)
When looking for Onam Activities for Preschoolers, why not start with the oldest one? Flower rangoli is one of the creative and traditional Onam activities for kids.
The use of both flowers and flower petals is required to make an Athapookalam. Keralites usually start by making a Flower Rangoli with a single ring, on the very first day of the festival.
To do: You can assign your children the task of choosing different flowers, and even separating the petals from the flower buds. Further, you can involve them by soliciting their help in making that flower rangoli.
Watching the boat race can be one of the amusing onam activities for kids. This one’s for all those folks who can make it to Kerala in Onam Season.
To Do: The truly best thing about Onam, is the fun celebrations that take place this season. Right at the top of the list, is Boat Racing. Preschoolers will certainly delight in watching the Boat Race at Onam time!
Did you know that elephants are decorated in Kerala? During the festival of Onam, these beautiful creatures are decorated with Nettipattam. In case you’re wondering what that is, it is a gold-plated ornament that is worn on the forehead.
To do: Take an elephant toy or showpiece, and let your child decorate it to the best of their abilities. Alternatively, you could get them to draw and decorate an elephant sketch, using different colours and beads. This activity is sure to create memories that will last them a lifetime! Moreover, decorating the elephants can also be integrated with eco-friendly lessons while conducting Onam activities for kids.
Reading books is a great way to know about all cultures and festivals, Onam included. There are several books that will help children get into the festive mood of Onam. It is also one of the best Onam celebration ideas in school.
To Do: We recommend you to pick up ‘Celebrate Onam with Me! (From The Toddler Diaries)’ by Shoumi Sen. Children will delight in travelling to God’s Own Country with the young protagonist Riya, and learning how and why we celebrate Onam. Packed with things like enchanting Snake Boat Races, reading this book is a sure shot means to making the festival of Onam come alive for kids.
There is no festival in India that is complete without its special food. For the Malayali people, Onam Sadhya is a meal that holds a special significance. Onam celebration activities are simply incomplete, without having your kids partake of this sumptuous festive fare. Therefore, organising an Onam Sadhya is one of the interesting Onam celebration ideas in school.
To Do: Get your children to enjoy the traditional Onam feast, the traditional way! To start with, they need to be seated on mats with their legs crossed. They must then eat with their right hands, without the use of cutlery. The 24 to 28 dishes that this meal comprises, will have them smacking their lips in satisfaction!
The tiger holds a place of great significance in the celebrations of Onam. This Onam, why don’t you get your child involved in creating their own Tiger Mask?
What you need:
- Paper paint
- Glue
- Rubber Band
- Water Colours
- Craft Knife
- Scissors
To Do:
- Paint the paper plate in orange, and let it dry completely. Then, draw a rough outline of the eyes, nose and mouth.
- Use black paint to highlight the eyes and nose, and white paint for the space inside the eyes.
- Use red paint for the tongue.Draw the tiger ears on another plate and cut them out. Then, paste them onto the tiger’s face.
- Use white paint to draw white stripes on the face. When the paint is dry, cut out the inside portion of the eyes using the craft knife.Make a small hole on both sides of the face. Finally, tie a rubber band through the holes.
- Your tiger is ready to roar! Bring on the tiger and let children dance with energy while conducting Onam activities for students.
4 Simple Onam Pookalam Designs – the Floral Frenzy!
Here are some simple Onam Pookalam designs, that are sure to take that Onam festive feeling, several notches higher.
- Circular Design .
- Leaves Design .
- Om Design.
- The Vallam Kalli, or Boat Race design .
Arrange the flowers in concentric circles, beginning with the ones that are smallest in the centre.
Who said Pookalams must only be created with flowers? Toss some green colour into that Pookalam Design by adding leaves, either cut up or left in their whole.
While the instructions to create this design are a tad difficult, it’s certainly worth the effort to follow them and create that spectacular Om design.
Can’t take your preschooler to Kerala to watch the boat race? No problem. Let them help you in creating a Pookalam based on the Vallam Kalli, or Boat Race. These are some of the fun Onam activities for students.
Conclusion
You don’t have to be a Malayali to celebrate Onam! At EuroKids we believe that when children celebrate different festivals, they connect with kids from different backgrounds, and learn the importance of friendship and togetherness. Festivals are special days indeed, to celebrate tradition and heritage with happiness and harmony.
Are you ready to give a memorable Onam festive experience for your baby?
For informative and accurate articles on all things related to your new born-toddler’s development, growth, health and nutrition, follow EuroKids Blogs and do check out our nationally recognized preschools – EuroKids for the first step in your kid’s educational journey!
