Onam: State festival of Kerala

21 August, 2012

Onam is the state festival of Kerala celebrated to commemorate the Vamana avatar of Vishnu and the homecoming of the legendary Emperor Mahabali.

THIS YEAR the main festival falls on August 29, but the celebrations have started 10 days prior to it. The state government organised the elephant processions, folk art and cultural presentations, music and dancing events to make Onam festival a spectacular event to make Kerala a tourist destination.

The ten-day festival include decoration with intricate flower mats, special meals, snake boat races, prayers, rituals and socio-cultural events which make Onam a unique festival.

It is often said that no other Indian festival the colorfulness, diversity and cultural richness of Onam. It is also rice harvest festival celebrated in the Malayalam month of Chingam.

During ten days of Onam festivities, the rich cultural heritage of Kerala is on display with the feast of a nine-course meal consisting of about a dozen dishes.

The festival is also marked with playing of local games called Onakalikal played by men. While, women make flower mats called Pookalam and organise group dances called Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal.

Here is my acrostic on ONAM.

O: Onakalikal playing and Pookalam flower mat decorations by the

N: Natives of Kerala along with festivities, religious fervour, folk performances, games, and

A: Anizham 'snake boat' race with

M: Mahabali and Vamanan statues all around