Onam, the vibrant festival of Kerala, brings people together with its colorful traditions, feasts, and celebrations. Recently, debates in Kerala have surfaced about whether Christians should participate in Onam, with some viewing it as a cultural festival open to all, while others see it as a Hindu religious event. This article explores why Christians can joyfully participate in Onam as a cultural celebration, while keeping it distinct from religious faith and liturgical practices. Drawing on Church teachings, particularly from the Second Vatican Council and other verifiable Church documents, we will show how Onam’s values of togetherness and unity align with Christian principles, while emphasizing the need to avoid mixing cultural celebrations with religious worship.

Understanding Onam as a Cultural Festival

Onam is celebrated across Kerala as a harvest festival marking the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali. It includes traditions like pookalam (floral designs), Onasadya (feast), boat races, and cultural dances. For many Keralites, Onam transcends religious boundaries, symbolizing unity, community, and gratitude for nature’s bounty. While its origins are linked to Hindu mythology, Onam is largely celebrated as a cultural event in modern Kerala, embraced by people of all faiths, including Christians, Muslims, and others.

The debate arises when Onam is viewed solely as a Hindu religious festival due to its mythological roots. Some Christians argue that participating in Onam might conflict with their faith. However, seeing Onam as a cultural celebration allows Christians to join in its festivities without compromising their beliefs, as long as it is kept separate from religious worship.

Church Teachings on Engaging with Culture

The Catholic Church, through its teachings, encourages Christians to engage with the positive aspects of local cultures while remaining faithful to Christ. The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), a landmark event in the Church’s history, provides clear guidance on this matter in its document Gaudium et Spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World). This document emphasizes the Church’s openness to the world and its cultures.

In Gaudium et Spes (no. 58), the Church teaches:

“There are many ties between the message of salvation and human culture. For God, revealing Himself to His people… has used the culture of different peoples… The Church, sent to all peoples of every time and place, is not bound exclusively to any race or nation, any particular way of life or any customary pattern of living.”

This means the Church recognizes the value of cultural traditions and encourages Christians to engage with them, as long as they align with moral and ethical values. Onam, as a celebration of community, gratitude, and unity, reflects values that are compatible with Christian teachings.

Another key document, Nostra Aetate (Declaration on the Relation of the Church to Non-Christian Religions, 1965), urges Christians to respect and appreciate the good in other cultures and traditions. It states (no. 2):

“The Catholic Church rejects nothing that is true and holy in these religions… She regards with sincere reverence those ways of conduct and of life, those precepts and teachings which… often reflect a ray of that Truth which enlightens all men.”

While Onam is not a religious practice for Christians, its cultural elements—such as sharing meals, fostering unity, and celebrating community—reflect “truth and holiness” that Christians can embrace. The Church encourages dialogue and collaboration with people of other faiths, which includes participating in cultural events like Onam that promote human values.

Avoiding Confusion with Liturgical Celebrations

While Christians can participate in Onam as a cultural festival, it is important to keep it distinct from liturgical celebrations, which are sacred acts of worship rooted in Christian faith. The Church’s Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) explains that liturgy is the official public worship of the Church, centered on the Eucharist and the sacraments (CCC 1066–1070). Onam, even as a cultural celebration, is not a liturgical act and should not be mixed with religious worship.

For example, organizing pookalam or Onasadya in church premises as part of cultural festivities is acceptable, but these should not be incorporated into the Mass or other liturgical services. The Second Vatican Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium (Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, no. 37) allows for cultural adaptation in liturgy but emphasizes that such adaptations must be approved by Church authorities and remain true to the Christian faith. Onam’s cultural practices do not qualify as liturgical elements, so they should remain separate to avoid confusion.

Appreciating the Good in Onam

Onam’s core themes—togetherness, gratitude, and community—are deeply aligned with Christian values. The Bible emphasizes love for neighbor (Mark 12:31) and giving thanks in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Onam’s focus on sharing meals, helping the poor, and fostering unity reflects these principles. For instance, the Onasadya brings families and communities together, much like the Christian call to fellowship and charity.

The Church’s document Ad Gentes (Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church, 1965) encourages Christians to engage with local cultures in a spirit of openness. It states (no. 11):

“In order to be able to bear more fruitful witness to Christ, let [Christians] live in harmony with the men of their time… let them share in cultural and social life by the various exchanges and enterprises of human living.”

Participating in Onam allows Christians to build bridges with their neighbors, fostering harmony and mutual respect in Kerala’s diverse society. By joining in cultural activities like making pookalam, enjoying traditional dances, or sharing the Onasadya, Christians can show solidarity with their fellow Keralites while remaining rooted in their faith.

Practical Guidelines for Christians Celebrating Onam

To participate in Onam in a way that respects both Christian faith and Kerala’s cultural heritage, here are some practical guidelines based on Church teachings:

1. Focus on Cultural Aspects: Engage in Onam’s cultural elements, such as feasts, dances, or boat races, as expressions of community and gratitude, not as religious acts. Avoid participating in rituals that are explicitly religious, such as offerings in Hindu temples, if they conflict with Christian beliefs.
2. Keep Liturgy Separate: Ensure that Onam celebrations are not mixed with the Mass or other sacramental rites. For example, organizing a cultural event in the church hall is fine, but these activities should not be part of liturgical worship.
3. Promote Unity and Charity: Use Onam as an opportunity to practice Christian values like charity and hospitality. Share the Onasadya with the poor or invite neighbors of different faiths to join in the festivities, reflecting Christ’s love.
4. Educate the Community: Parishes and Christian leaders can educate the faithful about the distinction between cultural and religious celebrations, drawing on Church documents like Gaudium et Spes and Nostra Aetate to clarify that Onam can be embraced as a cultural event.

Addressing Concerns

Some Christians may still worry that participating in Onam could lead to syncretism (mixing religions) or dilute their faith. However, the Church’s teachings are clear that engaging with culture does not mean adopting another religion. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith’s document Dominus Iesus (2000) reaffirms that Christ is the only Savior, but this does not prevent Christians from appreciating cultural practices that promote human dignity and goodness (no. 2). Onam, when celebrated as a cultural festival, poses no threat to Christian faith.

Moreover, Kerala’s history shows that Christians have long participated in Onam without compromising their beliefs. The Syro-Malabar and Syro-Malankara Churches, rooted in Kerala’s culture, have embraced local traditions while remaining faithful to Christian liturgy. This balance is a model for how Christians can approach Onam today.

Conclusion

Onam is a beautiful celebration of Kerala’s culture, uniting people across religious lines in gratitude, joy, and community. Christians can and should participate in Onam as a cultural festival, appreciating its values of togetherness and unity, which align with Christian teachings. The Second Vatican Council’s documents, such as Gaudium et Spes, Nostra Aetate, and Ad Gentes, encourage Christians to engage with local cultures while keeping their faith distinct. By celebrating Onam culturally and avoiding its integration into liturgical worship, Christians can honor both their faith and Kerala’s rich heritage. Let Onam be a time for all Keralites, including Christians, to come together in love and unity, reflecting the universal call to live as one human family.

Sources:

• Gaudium et Spes (1965), Second Vatican Council.
• Nostra Aetate (1965), Second Vatican Council.
• Sacrosanctum Concilium (1963), Second Vatican Council.
• Ad Gentes (1965), Second Vatican Council.
• Catechism of the Catholic Church (1992).
• Dominus Iesus (2000), Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.

All cited documents are verifiable through official Vatican sources, such as http://www.vatican.va.