“Pookkalams (Floral arrangement)” are made in all the houses from “Atham” day, ten days before onam to the thiruvonam day. “Thiruvonam” is the most important day and a feast is made comprising of a variety of traditional Kerala dishes. New clothes will be worn by all members of the family. Boat races are organized in many areas, Alapuzha Nehru trophy boat race and Aranmula Uthruttathi boat race being the famous ones. These boat races attract a lot of tourists from many parts of the world.
Athachamayam is the spectacular customary procession which marks the beginning of the Onam celebrations in Kerala. It is held in Thripunithura near Ernakulam on the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam. Folk art forms of Kerala, many floats, decorated elephants are all part of this procession. It is a treat to every one’s eyes.
India is a land of festivals. There are many colourful festivals celebrated in India. There are festivals celebrated all over India and those which are celebrated only in some states. Some of the Hindu festivals celebrated all over India are Diwali, Ganesh Chathurthi, Navratri, and Mahashivaratri. Pongal, Onam and Vishu are some of the festivals celebrated regionally. Pongal is celebrated mostly in Tamilnadu and Onam and Vishu are celebrated by Keralites.
Christmas and Easter are the major Christian Festivals. These two festivals are celebrated by all Christians in India and also worldwide.
Muslim festivals like Bakr-Id, Eid ul-Fitr and Muharram are celebrated not only in India, but also, all over the world by Muslims.
There are many Sikh festivals also. Some of them are Guru Nanak Jayanti, Lohri, and Holla Mohalla. These festivals are celebrated with great enthusiasm in Punjab and by the Sikh community worldwide.
Onam is one of the most important festival for Keralites. This year, Onam falls on August 27, 2007. Onam is celebrated for 10 days in Kerala starting from Atham to Thiruvonam.
There are many rituals and celebrations for Onam, Pookkalam, Athachamayam, Aranmula Uthrittathi Boat Race, OnaSadhya, Onam Songs and Onam Games.
‘Athachamayam’ is a grand procession that marks the beginning of Onam Festival. This procession is held in Tripunithura near Kochi.
The event recalls a royal tradition when Maharajas of one-time Kochi State travelled to the Thripunithura Fort with their entire entourage, as a custom.
Onam, the most auspicious festival of Kerala, celebrated on 15th of September 2005. Onam, the “Harvest Festival” falls on the “Thiruvonam” day of the malayalam month “Chingam”. It is celebrated with great enthusiasm among Keralites to mark the return of King Mahabali to see his people.
“Pookkalams (Floral arrangement)” are made in all the houses from “Atham” day, ten days before onam to the thiruvonam day. “Thiruvonam” is the most important day and a feast is made comprising of a variety of traditional Kerala dishes. New clothes will be worn by all members of the family.
Boat races are organized in many areas, Alapuzha Nehru trophy boat race and Aranmula Uthruttathi boat race being the famous ones. These boat races attract a lot of tourists from many parts of the world.
