Hi Sudhi,

That's great I don't know much about Kerala but I would like to be a part of this festival on Boddunan.

Lets Celebrate Onam with boddunan family.

-Atul Barapatre B)

Note:You took Kerala as a nation, write it as" Onam is one of the festival of Kerala"

Sorry :-p. ONAM is the important and very very special festival in kerala.

well then.........Happy Onam.......say Hi to Mohanlal,Mamooti(that's all I know)

Happy ONAM festivals to all.

Enjoy it with your family and friends. :woohoo:

I married a malu, so that makes me half Malu and half Sindhi. This is my second Onam with my family. I wasnt able to celebrate the last one though. I understand we go to the temple on the first day of Onam and there is a extensive pooja at the temple in Kerala. It happens in pratically in every Malyali(Ayyappa) Temple. I believe it is like Diwali in Hindus. It quite the same occusion, People clean their house, they decorate the temples, they bring flowers and on the day of Onam, a lavish meal is prepared. All the family members eat together on a banana leaf. No Alcohol or meat is consumed on that day. More over, I believe it is considered a good month. Like Dantarus is a good day to buy good. Onam is the good time to start new project and buy new things.

I was talking to my sister in laws kids, the other day about Onam, the first sentence the elder one said was. "There will be so many sales in Kerala right now". Everything comes with an Onam offer. Kerala is bright and colourful for the 10 days Onam is celebrated. It is known as God's own country, and celebration for people in Kerala means making God happy, and spending time in worship and attending the temple ruituals. Its fun, in its own way.

Happy Onam to all

Hey.. Happy Onam to all members. Enjoy the great festival.

well Happy Half Onam preeti(hehe)......just kidding.......enjoy the life and what is SINDHI

Happy ONAM to you half mallu. :-)
sindi means who lives beside sindhu river.

Hai friends! :)

Pertaining to what Mrs Preeti Vaswani had mentioned,I am specifying the facts of Onam :)

What is Onam?

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.

Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all.

The Legend

Story goes that during the reign of mighty asura (demon) king, Mahabali, Kerala witnessed its golden era. Every body in the state was happy and prosperous and king was highly regarded by his subjects. Apart from all his virtues, Mahabali had one shortcoming. He was egoistic. This weakness in Mahabali's character was utilized by Gods to bring an end to his reign as they felt challenged by Mahabali's growing popularity. However, for all the good deed done by Mahabali, God granted him a boon that he could annually visit his people with whom he was so attached.It is this visit of Mahabali that is celebrated as Onam every year. People make all efforts to celebrate the festival in a grand way and impress upon their dear King that they are happy and wish him well.

Onam Celebrations

The most impressive part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

There is also a tradition to play games, collectively called Onakalikal, on Onam. Men go in for rigorous sports like Talappanthukali (played with ball), Ambeyyal (Archery), Kutukutu and combats called Kayyankali and Attakalam. Women indulge in cultural activities. They make intricately designed flower mats called, Pookalam in the front courtyard of house to welcome King Mahabali. Kaikotti kali and Thumbi Thullal are two graceful dances performed by women on Onam. Folk performances like Kummatti kali and Pulikali add to the zest of celebrations.



Thanks and Regards,
Swetha Shenoy B)

Good information Swetha. Thanks for sharing it with us. We are getting familiar with so many things here.