Onam Festival
Marking the end of the monsoon and welcoming the harvest season, Onam, Kerala's national holiday, is celebrated with great fanfare for 10 days and falls in August / September.
Six major events of this festival:
1. Tripunithura Athachamayam
It is the first day of Onam. Celebrated with grandeur and zeal, this inaugural day features a colorful parade with musicians, dancers, carnival floats and decorated elephants as they roam the streets.
2. Pookalam: Decoration and flower arrangements.
The Onam Festival is also called the Flower Festival and Pookalam is a ritual in which people draw pictures on the floor and decorate them with flowers. Flower carpets appear in front of doors and in temples.
3. Pulikali: The great dance of the tiger.
The literal meaning of Pulikali is "tiger game". 200 years ago, the king of Kochi insisted on perpetuating an ancient tiger dance that reflected manhood. Hundreds of people get painted and dress like tigers, then perform the dance to traditional music.
4. Vallamkali: The snake boat race
This race takes place on the Pampa River. It is actually a large parade that includes the Aranmula Uthrattathi boat race and the Nehru Trophy boat race. Thrills guaranteed for participants!
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5. Onam Sadya: The Complete Meal
No self-respecting festival would not be complete without delicious food! Thus, the Onam sadya or "Onam feast" is the culmination of this ten day celebration. This is a meal of 11 to 13 traditional dishes served on a banana leaf. The meal takes place during the last two days. It that starts at 10 a.m. and ends at 5 p.m.
6. Folk dances: The festivities at their peak!
Women dance the Kaikottikali in honor of King Mahabali and the Thumbi Thualli.