Onam - Significance of the Kerala harvest festival
Onam is the most important festival for Keralites (Malayalees), and is celebrated all over Kerala during the month of Chingam, which is the first month of the Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham. Spread over ten days, the festival kicks off on a day called Atham and carries on till the 10th day which is called Thiru Onam or Thiruvonam, which means ‘Sacred Onam Day’. This year the festivities will begin on August 21st and carry on till September 2nd. After the 10th day, for about two more days as there are a few cultural events like the snake boat races, Pulikkali (tiger play), and others. Onam is celebrated to honor a demon king, as it is said that on Thiruvonam, the spirit of the demon king Mahabali visits Kerala. Onam is the festival for his welcome. Though a demon was said to be kind-hearted king. How it is celebrated Flower mats called Pookalam are made for welcoming the king and a meal is prepared which is called Onasadya. Celebrations comprise traditional dance - thiruvat...