Onavillu: India musical instrument

The onavillu is a simple and short bow-shaped instrument. The name of the musical instrument may have come from Onam and villu. The musical instrument is used in dances in Kerala during the onam feast, and villu means bow. The use of the musical instrument has deteriorated, but is still often used in the rural art forms.

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The name Onavillu also can be used to refer to flat, tapered cooden artifacts ornamented with tassels and also used in festive occasions of devotion to Lord Vishnu.

The onavillu that accompanies the Kummattikali dance and some other dances is a Kerala string musical instrument that is produced from the pith of the palmyra stem, or from the bamboo, and shaped as a bow. Bamboo silvers are used in the production of the bow strings. The bow strings of the instrument sound when they are being struck with the use of a thin stick of a pencil-size.

The ceremonial version of the onavillu that is not a musical instrument is manufactured from a flat piece of wood that is about ½ inch thick, tapering on both sides of the instrument. Sizes differ from about 3.5 inches to 4.5 feet by 6 inches.

The wood of kadambu, jack fruit, aanjili tree and maruthu are preferred in the production of the instrument. The wood is cut to the needed dimension before being ornamented with miniature paintings of Anantha Sayanam and Avatars Dasavatharam, Shri Pattabhishekam and Shri Krishna Leela. The production of the ceremonial bow is the preserve of a local family.

According to myth, when King Mahabali was being sent into the earth by Vamana, Lord Vishnu came to him. King Mahabali asked that each year he could be permitted to visit his native land and see the Lord Vishnu. Lord Vishnu ceded him the boon, but said that the King would be able to see him and his avatars only on portrayed images and icons. Lord Vishvakarman was commanded to paint the images of Dasavatharam on pieces of kadambu wood. This was the origin of the musical instrument that is put to display annually for King Mahabali to view.