Onam is the most important festival in Kerala. Its a 10-day harvest festival that celebrates the Malayali New Year and occurs in the Malayali month of Chingam.
This festival is associated with the great Asura King Mahabali and his selfless devotion to Lord Vishnu. According to the legend, Indra and the other Gods disliked Mahabali due to his power and influence and feared that he may misuse his powers being an asura, so they approached Lord Vishnu and requested him to stop Mahabali. Lord Vishnu took Vamana (dwarf) avatar and went to Mahabali when he was performing a yagna. Lord Vishnu as the dwarf asked for land that would be the size of his, the dwarf's, three steps. Mahabali was amused by the dwarf boy's wish and agreed to give him the land that was the size of his three steps. The dwarf boy became huge and covered the entire Earth and the heavens in his two feet. When he asked Mahabali where would he keep his third step, Mahabali, now realizing that the boy is not an ordinary boy, but Lord Vishnu himself requested him to put his foot on his head. Lord Vishnu put his foot on Mahabali's head and sent him to Paatal Lok. However, he blessed Mahabali of immortality and allowed him to return once a year to his people. Onam is the day people believe Mahabali returns to his people.
Onam is a 10-day long festival. The first day is called Atham. On this day women make pookalam, a flower rangoli to welcome their king Mahabali. People also begin cleaning their houses. The second day is called Chithira. On this day more flowers are added to the pookalam. Most of the flowers used here are orange, yellow and cream colored.
The third day is called as Chodi and on this day people do clothes and jewelry shopping. The fourth day is Visakam. Many competitions and artistic performances take place in Kerala. The most notable one being Onathallu in which two teams challenge each other outside a circular ring and present warlike movements when they enter the ring.
Boat races take place on the fifth day, Anizham. They're known as Vallamkali or snake boat races. On the sixth day Thriketta, people travel to visit their families. On the seventh day Moolam, various dance performances happen around the state. Trained artists paint their bodies as tigers and leopards and perform Puli Kali. Crowds gather to watch them perform.
The eighth day is called Pooradam. On this day moortis of Lord Vishnu in his vamana avatar and King Mahabali are erected in temples and homes. The moortis are placed in the center of the pookalam or the flower rangoli. The ninth day is known as Uthradam. On this day gifts in the form of local farm produce or artisanal crafts are presented to a village head known as Karanavar. The Karanavar offers sweets and gifts to the village.
The main festival is celebrated on Thiruvonam, the tenth day. It is believed that King Mahabali visits his subjects on this day. People wake up early in the morning, do prayers, light lamps and prepare ata, an offering made of rice flour and molasses. People make little conical figures made of clay and place them on the courtyard. They wear new clothes, jewelry and visit the temples. On this day, a large feast known as Onam Sadhya happens. The feast consists of 11-13 vegetarian dishes served on banana leaves. Women also perform a clap dance Kaikottikali in traditional gold bordered garments called mundu.
On the eleventh day people believe Mahabali departs to paatal lok and his figurines are immersed in rivers and the pookalams are removed.
We, Crazy Creatives wish you all a Very Happy Onam.
Sevenstreaks | oh_nakhrewaali | Minionite
Sorry I didn't know that! Thanks. You and Subha did the write-up then ? 
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