[edit] Harvest Festival of Kerala
The harvest festival of Kerala, Onam is one of the most important festival among Keralites. It is a festival of joy, oneness and happiness as it marks the reward for all the hardwork they did all round the year.
This ten days long festival is celebrated in the Malayalam month Chingam the festival also has a historical relevance, it is said that King Mahabali use to rule Kerala long time ago and during his rule the kingdom was prosperous. Onam thus signifies the prosperity and happiness which people had under his rule. It is also believed that during Onam festival, the King returns to Kerala to pay a visit to his people. On this festival every member of the family together enjoy this festivity with huge fervor and gaiety.
On this day people clean up their homes and everyone wears new clothes, women and children prepare Pokkalam{design made from flowers) in front of the house, to welcome the King Mahabali. Rituals and worship are also done.
Most tempting among these the sumptuous feast which is arranged at home with all traditional dishes and desserts. This typical Kerala Food is served in traditional way in a banana leaf. On this occasion women performs the traditional dance Kaikottikali a dance performed on Onam. In this dance form women sing songs praising King Mahabali and dance around the pookalam {design made from flowers) . At the center of this is placed a lit bronze lamp called Nilavilakku. The women wear traditional attire while performing this dance.
Another attraction of this day is the famous Vallamkali boat race its an attractive feature of Onam. In Vallamkali hundreds of men row the boats to the beat of drums and cymbals. Its a huge event and people from different corners of the world reach to get a glimpse of this majestic event.
Onam is a mass festival of Kerala it is celebrated without any communal barriers this is a unique festival which narrows all differences and spreads the message of peace and love. Every Keralite celebrate this festival in their own style.
