Aptly titled God’s own country, Kerala is one of the most beautiful places in South India. This coastal state is lined with glorious Arabian sea beaches, enticing backwaters, and aromatic spice plantations on the Western Ghats. One of the highlights for tourists is to witness the celebration
of Onam in Kerala. It is a ten-day harvest festival that marks the homecoming of the mythical King Mahabali and is the biggest festival of Kerala. Onam is celebrated at the beginning of the month of Chingam- the first month of traditional Malayalam calendar- that coincides with the month of August or September in the Gregorian calendar.
The Vamanamoorthy Temple in Thrikkakara, also known as the Thrikkakara Temple is associated with the Onam festival. It is believed that the festival originated from this temple and then spread all across the state. The temple is dedicated to Lord Vamana, the fifth incarnation of Lord Vishnu.
It is said that Thrikkakara was the abode of the benevolent and generous demon king Mahabali. He was popular among the masses because of his good deeds. His reign was considered to be the golden era of Kerala. However, his power, popularity, and the impact became a matter of grave concern for the gods. Hence, they sought the help of Lord Vishnu to curb the powers of the king. Lord Vishnu took the form of a dwarf Brahmin, known as the Vaman avatar, and met the demon king, Mahabali. Mahabali was deeply impressed by the wit and intelligence of the dwarf Brahmin and asked him to make a wish, which he would fulfill at any cost. The Vamana asked for land that could be covered by his 3 footsteps. The king agreed, but by that time the size of Vamana’s body grew bigger, and with one foot he measured the whole sky, and his second foot covered the entire earth. By then, Mahabali had understood that this Brahmin was no ordinary person but Lord Vishnu himself. Worried that the third step of the Lord would damage the entire earth, Lord Mahabali placed his head underneath his feet for Vishnu to measure. Lord Vishnu pushed him to the underworld (Paataal). But, the king loved his people a lot and was allowed to visit them once a year. It is believed that every year, during the time of Onam, the king returns and visits the houses of his people.
Onam is one of the major festivals in Kerala. The celebrations last for a period of 10 days. These ten days are called- Atham, Chithira, Chodhi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradom, and Thiruvonam.
Since the idea behind the festival is to welcome their beloved king Mahabali, a traditional flower carpet named ‘Pookalam’ is placed in the doorway of every home. The houses are decorated with flowers and rangoli, and traditional dishes are prepared for the family and the mythical king. It is a custom to prepare delicious twenty-one curries and sweet Payasam on Onam. Temples organize special pujas, and everyone takes the blessings of the temple priest, their elders, and the gods.
However, the main attraction of the festival is the boat race ‘Vallamkali’, where you see sleek and splendid snake-shaped boats called Chundans testing the rowing skills and stamina of the participants. These races are energetic, and the entire atmosphere is filled with loud cheers from the audience.
You can reach Kerala by using any of the transportation modes below:
By air- The beautiful state
of Kerala is well connected by air. It has two international airports namely Thiruvananthapuram International Airport and Kochi International Airport. These airports have excellent connectivity with prominent Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata among others.
By rail- The Kerala Railway
Station is interconnected with major railway stations of India, and you can get direct trains to reach here from almost every major city such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, etc.
By road- The states of
Karnataka and Tamil Nadu have great road connectivity with Kerala. You can reach Kerala by driving through the National Highways 17, 47 and 49.
Onam is the biggest, most important, and most awaited festival in Kerala. It is a harvest festival that marks the beginning of the new year in the traditional Malayalam calendar. It obviously is one of the best times to visit Kerala and experience its festive hues. Here are some of the most exciting places for you to visit in Kerala during Onam to enjoy the festival to the fullest.
Since Onam is said to have originated from here, it becomes a very important festival for this temple as well as the entire state of Kerala. Celebrations start here from the first day- Atham, with a special flag hoisting ceremony. The next ten days are filled with dance, music, food, and cultural performances. The highlight of the festivities is the grand procession, Pakalpooram, that takes place a day before Thiru Onam. The main deity, Vamana, is carried around the temple grounds on an elephant, and it is a very colorful sight.
Onam week, as the name suggests, is a week-long celebration of Onam organized by Kerala tourism in Trivandrum- the capital of Kerala. It takes place at multiple venues across the city, and the festivities include dance, drama, stage shows, folk art, and delectable Kerala cuisines. The entire city is decorated and adorned during Onam, and you can see large handicraft fairs being organized everywhere. On the last day, it ends with a huge parade that includes floats and decorated elephants.
What is Onam without a lavish spread of mouth-watering traditional dishes? In local language and tradition, the Onam feast is referred to as Onasadya and comprises several specialties, often a spread of more than twenty different dishes, all placed meticulously on a neatly placed banana leaf. If you are a foodie in Kerala, then you should visit Kochi. Kochi has many restaurants that serve authentic cuisines. But, if you want to experience a mix of Kerala’s food and hospitality, you can also dine on traditional Onam cuisines in selected local homes in and around Kochi, under Kerala Tourism’s Responsible Tourism Mission. This is a great way to know about the culture and traditions of the local Keralites over food and beverages.
If you love watching parades and colorful processions on the streets, head to Thrissur on the 14th of September to witness hundreds of grown men dressed up as tigers and moving gleefully to the beats of traditional percussion instruments. It clearly is one of the happiest and quirkiest festivals in India. The display of art and creativity here is extremely beautiful. It takes more than four hours to decorate each person as a tiger. All body hair is removed so that the intricate details can be printed on the skin. After the performance is over, the performers wash themselves with kerosene to get rid of the paint. Even though it looks quite eclectic, the Pulikkali Tiger Play is a serious business for the performers. There are prizes for the best-dressed tiger and loads of other goodies.
Snake Boat races are the highlight of the Kerala Onam Festival. In most parts of North India, Onam festival is known by its snake boat races. The Aranmula Boat Race is the oldest and the most famous boat race in Kerala. It attracts large crowds during Onam celebrations. Unlike most other boat races, the race at Aranmula places focus more on the traditional aspect of the race and is not competitive. The event has a religious significance to it, as it starts with the installation of the idol of Lord Krishna at the nearby Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple. Almost fifty boats take part in the race, which starts in the afternoon after all the religious rituals are completed. If you happen to find yourself in Kerala during Onam celebrations, you should not miss this event. It is unique to the state of Kerala and a once in a lifetime experience.
Onam is a great time to visit Kerala. It gives you an incredible opportunity to learn about the culture, practices, and traditions of the people of Kerala. You will also get to understand and appreciate the way of life of people from Kerala. After all, that’s what India is all about- Unity in Diversity!
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