Onam Festival of Kerala in India
Date of ONAM in 2012 : 29 August 2012.
Onam is the most popular festival among all the festivals celebrated in Kerala. Onam is also called as Vamana Jayanti (Vamana –The Incarnation of Lord Bishnu). This is again also called as Sravanotsavam and Thiruvonam.
This is a 10-days long festival celebrated with full of enthusiasm and joy by wearing new dresses, decorating homes, visiting temples, participating in various traditional events including popular boat-racing competitions and events organized every year. Now-a-days in few places in Kerala, people celebrate it only for four days but it is said in ancient times, this festival was celebrated for a month-long.
ONAM FESTIVAL KERALA, INDIA
Click to see YouTube videos on Onam Festival : http://youtu.be/7Iyte9IMtAo / http://youtu.be/_U0hW6jtsKw
This is the harvest time in Kerala when Kerala looks at its best with sunny golden paddy fields, fresh fruits and flowers in the trees after the last month of Malayalam calendar “Karkidakam”.
Onam corresponds with Malayalam New Year and begins with in the first month of Malayalam calendar “Chingam” ( August-September ). The first day Atham lies ten days before the Thiru Onam.
Ten days of Onam: 1. Atham, 2. Chithira, 3. Chodi, 4. Vishakam, 5. Anizham, 6. Thriketa, 7. Moolam, 8. Pooradam, 9. Uthradom 10. Thiruvonam. On Thiru Onam Day people indulge themselves with activities like wearing new dress, clean house, special prayers in temples, preparing Thiruona sadya meal in a grand way possible.
Now-a-days this ten-day long celebration including “Onam-Tourism-Week” is celebrated with full of activities and event attractions like Carnival of elephants, Fireworks, Boat racings like Aranmula Snake Boat Race and etc., Colorful aquatic festivals on the Pamba river, Thripunithura Athachamayam, Pulikkali Tiger Play, Food stalls, Art and handicrafts fairs, Stage show drams and Classical dances like Kathakalli etc.
Click here to read more about The Onam Harvest Festival of Kerala.
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