Onam, Onam Festivals|Onam Festival in Kerala

Time of the year September
Places to visit Kerala
Duration Seven to ten days

Onam is one of the most significant harvest festivals of Kerala and is an attraction for thousands of people outside and within the state.Onam Festival in Kerala,Onam Festival Kerala India,Kerala Onam Festival,Onam Festival Tour,Kerala Festival All the activities during this season are centered on worshipping, music, dance, sports, boat races and good food. This festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam (ending of August and beginning of September). Onam is a harvest festival and celebrates the reward of nature after a year of hard work. The merry making of the festival includes an elaborate procession of Trichur and amusing boat races on River Pampa. Women dress up in heavy jewelry and new saris and make complx and detailed designs of “rangolis” and “pookkalam”(with flowers) in front of their homes.

Onam is a time for sports, festivities, and ritual celebrations in Kerala. The Keralites celebrate this festival in memory of the golden era of King Mahabali whose spirit is said to visit the state at the time of Onam. Colorful aquatic festivals are organized along the sacred rive Pampa as part of the celebrations.

After three months of heavy rains, the sky becomes a clear blue and the forests a deep green. Onam Festival in Kerala,Onam Festival Kerala India,Kerala Onam Festival,Onam Festival Tour,Kerala Festival The brooks and streams come alive, spouting a gentle white foam, the lakes and rivers overflow and lotuses and lilies are in full bloom as if to welcome the spirit of the King. It is time to reap the harvest, to celebrate and to rejoice.

Onam is celebrated in the memory of King Mahabali. It was said that King Mahabali ruled Kerala a long time ago and looked after the welfare of the people. Thus Onam shows the blissful rule of the King and the freedom, which the people enjoyed under his rule. The people also believe that during Onam, the King returns to Kerala to pay a visit to his people.

The people in Kerala arrange for this festival by cleaning up their houses and decorating them. On the occasion of Onam, everybody in the family wears new clothes. Delicious sweets and dishes are prepared and served on the banana leaves. “Pookalam” a flower mat is visible outside every house.

This mat is a symbol of welcoming King Mahabali. Onam Festival in Kerala,Onam Festival Kerala India,Kerala Onam Festival,Onam Festival Tour,Kerala Festival On the eve of Onam,traditional rituals are performed and the people celebrate the occasion with a grand feast. “Payasam” a sweet and tempting porridge is one of the favorite dessert served on the eve of Onam.

“Vallamkali” or a great boat race is an attractive feature of this festival. In this game hundreds of men row the boats to the beat of drums and cymbals. An interesting thing to note is that above each boat there is a scarlet silk umbrella and gold coins are hung from the umbrella. This event is extremely popular with various boats competing with each other in order to win the race.

Onam is celebrated not only by Hindus but also by Christians and Muslims. It is one such festival that unites all the people regardless of race and religion.

 

 

Kerala Fairs and Festivals
Onam	Thiruvonam
Aranmula Boat Race	Maha Shiv Ratri
Arthunkal Perunnal	Easter