Celebrated this year on date 12th
September 2007, 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.



