Enchanting Kerala

KERALA TOURISM NEWSLETTER

Onam Rituals and Festivities

Kerala is ever in a festive mood as celebrations are always in the air. And this peaks during the annual Onam celebrations. The kaleidoscopic nature of Kerala culture becomes more vibrant and robust during this festive season. Onam is a festival of hues and cornucopia of flavours. It is a celebration that has its roots in mythology and agrarian life.

It is harvest time in Kerala, a period of plenitude and happiness. The official celebrations that last ten days begin with the Atham asterism in the month of Chingam (August-September), as per the local calendar.

The festivities start with a cultural fiesta called Athachamayam held at Thrippunithura, near Kochi on 2 September 2019. On the day of Atham, a magnificent procession is held, commemorating the victory of the King of Kochi. The procession provides a rare opportunity to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala in their full glory along with an ensemble of elephants and floats. Athachamayam marks the beginning of the ten-day Onam festival.

People from across the state and the world flock to see Pulikali (Tiger Dance) that features artistes who paint their bodies in exquisite detail to resemble tigers and dance to the rhythm of traditional percussion instruments. A few artistes play the role of the hunter. The Swaraj Ground in Thrissur district hosts this revelry on the fourth day of Onam (14 September 2019).

Government-sponsored celebrations which last over a week are also held in Thiruvananthapuram, the state capital. A variety of cultural shows with the participation of eminent artistes from various fields attracts people in large numbers as they arrive with families and friends at various venues. The official state-level celebrations come to an end with splendid, carnivalesque pageantry in the capital city held on the last day of Onam. This gives travellers from different parts of the world an opportunity to witness a cross-section of cultural events and entertainments related to Onam.

The capital city has its own dynamic traditions. In a 300-year-old tradition, six pairs of bows popularly known as Onavillu are offered to the chief deity at Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

Besides these feasts, a number of boat races such as Uthradam Thirunal, Aranmula, etc. are conducted in various parts of Kerala.

Come and join us to celebrate the most vibrant festival of God’s Own Country!