Onam 2025 Traditional Kasavu Saree: Onam, celebrated mostly by the people of Kerala, is an annual festival to mark the fresh harvest of the year. It is celebrated around the state by Keralites with a spectrum
of cultural events. From cleaning and decorating homes with floral carpets called Pookkalam, preparing a lavish vegetarian feast called Onam Sadya, donning the traditional attire and engaging in various cultural activities, the day is filled with a huge pomp and enthusiasm.
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To mark the event, Kerala-based women dress up in beautiful Kasavu sarees. From celebrities hailing from God’s Own Country, due to its breathtaking landscapes, backwaters, beaches, tea plantations and the Western Ghats, as well as the vibrant culture, to common people, donning these stunning six yards of elegance holds a special meaning. Below, we have looked into the significance of the sarees during the annual festival.
What Is The Meaning Of Thiruvonam?
Thiruvonam is the 10th and most significant day during the Onam festival, which commemorates the return of the mythical King Mahabali to his kingdom to visit his people.
The day is celebrated on the Shravana Nakshatra or Sravana Nakshatra (a sacred star to Lord Vishnu), as per the Malayalam calendar. Generally, it falls in late August or early September on the English calendar.
Significance Of Wearing Kasavu Sarees During Thiruvonam
On this significant day, Keralites wear new clothes, also known as Onakkodi, which are often gifted to children by elders to signify the joy of the occasion. But women pick white and gold Kasavu sarees, which hold a deep meaning. They team the sarees with traditional gold jewellery, dewy makeup and a gajra-adorned bun hairdo.
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Check out the significance of the Kasavu sarees below
- The traditional colour palette of the festival is white and gold, and so is that of the Kasavu sarees.
- These handwoven, elegant pieces, rooted in the rich tradition and culture of the state, symbolise prosperity and good fortune in the upcoming days.
- Encompassing the true meaning of the annual harvest festival, the white or off-white base is associated with purity, spirituality and peace.
- The golden border of those sarees signifies wealth, opulence and prosperity, and also serves as a profound connection with the festival’s spirit.
- The Kasavu sarees are generally made of cotton fabric. As the festival falls during late August or early September, wearing one provides utmost comfort to women during the hot and humid weather of the monsoon months.
- By wearing this saree, women showcase their appreciation towards the honest King Mahabali.
- Additionally, it promotes the cultural identity of the Malayali people as the skill of weaving the Kasavu sarees is passed down through the generations, which reflects on one of the art forms of that region.
Other Traditional Ensembles Worn In Thiruvonam
- Settu Mundu / Mundum Neriyathum: It is an older form of the Kasavu saree, which consists of two pieces. It includes the lower garment or the mundu alongside a settu/ a neriyathu/ a kavani, which is draped like a saree around the upper waist and the upper body.
- Golden-bordered skirts and blouses: Many young women in Kerala also wear the classic white skirts with gold borders alongside matching blouses.
- Mundu and kurta: Kerala men wear a white or off-white-hued cotton cloth around the waist to cover the lower part of the body alongside a white cotton kurta on Onam.
