When it comes to Onam festival celebration, people
are so excited that there is no barrier of their happiness. The people
of Kerala are so high spirited that the entire nation comes to enjoy the
Onam festivity with gaiety. The celebration of Onam continues for a
period of ten consecutive days, starting with Atham and ending with
Thiru Onam. Read further to know more about the Onam celebrations in
India.
It is a grand extravaganza that has been drawing more and more crowds
year after year. The Government of India has been giving the festivity a
major boost by celebrating the Kerala tourism week at the time of Onam.
This has brought immense popularity to the Onam festivity. To initiate
the celebration, intricately designed floral carpets known as Pookalam
are laid all over. As each day passes by, more and more gorgeous flowers
are added to Pookalam.
Girls embellish their homes with beautiful flowers and boys help them
in gathering the flowers. People visit their local temples and perform
special prayers. The state gets engrossed with the task of making
preparations for the carnival celebrations. The most happening day is
the last day of Onam, which is known as Thiruvonam.
The festivity celebration begins as early as 4 am. On this day, people
get up early, take bath, thoroughly clean their house, dress up in their
new clothes and offer prayers to seek the divine blessings. An exquisite
pookalam is made on this day to give a warm welcome to the spirit of
King Maveli. During the lunchtime, special feast is served, which is
more popularly known as Onasadya.
A number of activities are performed to entertain the public. Pulikali
performers, disguised as tigers, paint their bodies and act out several
scenes of hunting. Similarly, there are Kummattikali artists, who dress
themselves in the clothes made from plaited grass and go from one house
to the other and collect gifts by amusing children. The day also
witnesses the hosting of several game shows and other cultural programs.
