Onavillu also known as ‘Pallivillu’ is a bow shaped musical instrument in a broad piece of wood on which miniature paintings can be seen. It is believed that the name came from “Onam” and “Villu” since the instrument is used in dances in Kerala during the Onam festival.
The Making of Onavillu
The art and craft of making this ceremonial bow is the sole preserve of the male members of Vilayil Veedu family at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The family members observe 41 days penance prior to the commencement of the work which normally begins with the Kerala Malayalam New Year (1st day of Chingam Masam).
The Onam Villu is available in three dimensions – 4.5,4 and 3.5 feet in length, 6, 5.5 and 4 inches in width. They are half an inch thick. The wood of Kadambu, Maruthu, Plavu and Aanjili are used for making the villu as they have smooth surfaces. They possess a wooden dye to cut the wood to the required dimension and this dye is more than 300 years old. Then the wood is cut into the desired size with the aid of the dye. After applying a coat of red, pencil sketches are made. The colors used are yellow, blue, green, white and black. The red tassels used to adorn the ‘villu’ are made by the convicts in the central jail at Poojappura in Trivandrum.
Paintings of Ananthasayanam, Dasavatharam, Sreerama Pattabhishekam and Sree Krishnaleela are portrayed. Each villu is dedicated to one deity - while the Ananthasayanam version is dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, the one with Dasavatharam painting is offered to Lord Narasimha and the villu showing the Krishnaleela is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Sreerama Pattabhishekam to Sree Rama.
Onavillu is offered to the Lord Anantha Padmanabhaswamy at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple as part of the annual rituals during Onam festival season.
The Making of Onavillu
The art and craft of making this ceremonial bow is the sole preserve of the male members of Vilayil Veedu family at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. The family members observe 41 days penance prior to the commencement of the work which normally begins with the Kerala Malayalam New Year (1st day of Chingam Masam).
The Onam Villu is available in three dimensions – 4.5,4 and 3.5 feet in length, 6, 5.5 and 4 inches in width. They are half an inch thick. The wood of Kadambu, Maruthu, Plavu and Aanjili are used for making the villu as they have smooth surfaces. They possess a wooden dye to cut the wood to the required dimension and this dye is more than 300 years old. Then the wood is cut into the desired size with the aid of the dye. After applying a coat of red, pencil sketches are made. The colors used are yellow, blue, green, white and black. The red tassels used to adorn the ‘villu’ are made by the convicts in the central jail at Poojappura in Trivandrum.
Paintings of Ananthasayanam, Dasavatharam, Sreerama Pattabhishekam and Sree Krishnaleela are portrayed. Each villu is dedicated to one deity - while the Ananthasayanam version is dedicated to Lord Padmanabha, the one with Dasavatharam painting is offered to Lord Narasimha and the villu showing the Krishnaleela is dedicated to Lord Krishna and Sreerama Pattabhishekam to Sree Rama.
Onavillu is offered to the Lord Anantha Padmanabhaswamy at Sree Padmanabhaswami Temple as part of the annual rituals during Onam festival season.
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