Onam is the most important harvest festival of Kerala. Ranging from four days to ten days, all
the activities during this season are centered around worshipping, music, dances, sports, boat
races and good food. Being a harvest festival, it is time to thank God for the bountiful
yield and enjoy the bounty of nature
after a year of hard labor. Elaborate procession
of Trichur and spectacular snake boat races on River Pampa mark the merry-making
nature of the festival. Women dress up in new saris and heavy jewelry and make elaborate
and intricate designs of 'rangolis' (with colored rice paste) and 'pookkalam' (with
flowers) in front of their homes. The legendary king Mahabali is welcomed to his
kingdom with all the reverence. Prayers are offered to Lord Vishnu for his divine kindness.
Onam celebrations at Thiruvananthapuram, Trichur and Kottayam are remarkable for
their splendor. There is splendid display of fireworks to mark the end of the festival.
The girls perform the Kaikottikkali or Thiruvathirakkali around the traditional
brass lamp in the evening and lot of competitions and cultural programs are organized
during the season. Thousands of tourists visit Kerala during the festival to witness
the gorgeous magnificence of the festical. Join in the fun and festivities of Onam.
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