Onam is the most revered & celebrated festival of Kerala, is celebrated each year by means of the Malayali community across the world. The 10-day long competition marks the starting of harvest season as properly as the look of the Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu alongside with the homecoming of King Mahabali.
Highlights:
The pageant starts from Atham (Hasta) nakshatram, and ends on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatram. This year, the harvest pageant started out on 12th August and will conclude on 23rd August. The 10 days of the competition are titled on the names of astrological stars according to the Malayalam calendar.
The occasion of Onam begins with Atham. People in Kerala decorate their Home with yellow Plants regarded as Pokkalam.
The 2nd day of the festival is acknowledged as Chithira. On this day, humans smooth their complete homes and add another layer of plants to the Pookalam.
The 3rd day of Onam is found through meeting family contributors and exchanging gifts, recognised as Onakodi and jewellery.
The 4th day is viewed as the most auspicious one that marks the training of Onam Sadhya.
And on the 5th day, the annual boat race recognised as the Vallamkali boat race is performed from the Aranmula city on the banks of the River Pamba in Pathanamthitta. Malayali community people participate in this.
On the 6th day, The harvest festival Thriketta is observed. From this day, the schools remain closed & youngsters begin preparing for the devotional prayers.
With simply two days left for the festival, the 7th day marks the starting of the instruction for Onam Sandhya in which quite a few dance performances are held.
The Eighth day holds significance in festivities as the idols of Vamana and King Mahabali are prepared by the use of clay and placed in the centre of the Pookalam.
And finally on the 9th day of Uthradom, the festivities begin on a massive scale. People start coaching for traditional foods by using the usage of fruits and vegetables.
The tenth day of the competition is the most vital day of the carnival of Onam and it is believed that on Thiruvonam, the spirit of legendary King Mahabali visits the nation of Kerala and hence, the festivities commence from early morning. The grand feast of Onam called Onam sadhya is also organized on this day.