Ever Green Nature

Onam is the principal celebration in Kerala. Pass through to Kerala during Onam, on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater, and see Kerala at its festive best. See the beautiful flower carpets, eat a delicious festive lunch, watch a graceful dance performance and join in the festivities of Onam in Kerala, on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater. Like most parts of India, festivals in Kerala are an essential part of the social and cultural structure of the state and festival time is the best time to plan one's travel to Kerala. In Kerala, every community, every religion has something to celebrate about all through out the year. But one festival that is celebrated irrespective of caste and creed all over Kerala is the Onam festival. The celebrations begin within a fortnight of the Malayalam New Year and go on for ten days. The last day called the Thiruonam is the most important. All over the state, rituals along with new clothes, traditional cuisine, dance and music mark this harvest festival.Depending on the positioning of the stars and the moon, the festival is held at the end of August or beginning of September, less than a fortnight after the Malayalam New Year, Chingam begins. The biggest festival of Kerala, Onam is also the best time to plan one's travel and tour in Kerala. The color, enthusiasm and celebrations associated with Onam are enough to make you return again

The Legend behind Onam Festival in Kerala:
Onam is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, a legendary ruler of Kerala, who was celebrated for the justice and goodness of his canon. According to legend, people in his kingdom lived in wealth and harmony and loved their King so much that even the God's grew envious of him, for King Mahabali was of the race of Demons. King Mahabali had conquered all the land and sea and the heavens, making the Gods even more troubled. They requested Lord Vishnu, the Preserver, in the Hindu trinity to act. Vishnu descended on earth in the form of a dwarf Brahmin, called Vamana. He went to King Mahabali's palace and found the good King distributing alms. When Mahabali asked Vamana what alms he sought, Vamana replied he would like as much ground as he could cover with three footsteps. Mahabali looked at the tiny feet of the dwarf and agreed to his wish. Lord Vishnu covered the land and seas with one step and the heavens with the second. Mahabali recognized the presence of the Lord and offered his head as the ground for Vishnu/Vamana's third step. Mahabali was thus subjugated and sent to the underworld. However because he was a good and just king who loved his subjects, he could return once a year to check on the welfare of his people. Thus Onam is celebrated every year to welcome Mahabali, the good Demon King of Kerala. Join in the grand Onam celebration on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.
Onam Festival is celebrated with great joy and gaiety across Kerala, India on a particular day in August or September. People buy new clothes and exchange gifts. Houses are cleaned and beautiful flower carpets and decorations are made at the entrances of houses and in courtyards. Traditional oil lamps are lit in the courtyard and women dressed in traditional Kerala sarees dance around the lamp, performing a dance called Thiruvathirakali. The main event on Onam day is a grand feast at lunchtime. Called sadya, the feast consists of a series of dishes served one after the other, including rice, vegetable curries, pickles and several varieties of payasam or sweet dish. Many cultural events are also held on the occasion of Onam. Snake Boat races, Kathakali and Mohiniattam dance recitals and musical performances are organized to celebrate Onam in Kerala.
You will see all of Kerala decked up in its best, during the occasion of Onam. See Kerala celebrate the Onam festival with joy and happiness, on Kerala tours with Kerala Backwater.

Poookkalam

Poo - means flower. Kalam means special shape. Pookalams (flower mats) are usually circular in shape.
Onapookalam-Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu, Mukkutti (little tree plant), Chemparathy (shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana), Hanuman Kireedom (Red pagoda plant) and Chethi (Ixora)

Onapookkalam is made of different kinds of flowers. Commonly used flowers include Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu, Mukkutti (little tree plant), Chemparathy (shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana), Krishna Kireedom (Red pagoda plant) and Chethi (Ixora). Of all these flowers, Thumba flowers are given more importance in Pookkalam as they are small in size and shine in the soft rays of the sun.

'Thumba Poo' is also considered to be the favourite flower of Lord Shiva and King Mahabali was a devout worshipper of Shiva.

Tiger Dance-- Kaduva Kali :

This is also known as Puli Kali. It is a customary art form of Kerala performed during festive seasons especially during the Onam and cultural programmers

Performers paint their bodies in bright yellow, red and black spots and lines to resemble tigers, and go about from house to house, dancing dynamically to the loud thumping of drumming instruments like Chenda, Udukku, Thakal, etc.

Thiruvathirakali

This is a traditional dance form in Kerala.The celebration day falls on Thiruvathira in the month of December-January. As per tradition the day is observed as the birthday of Lord Siva. Also it is the day when God of Love Kamadeva was resurrected.
Thiruvathira songs are mostly narrative in nature. Rituals start with the early morning bath followed by visit to Siva temple, and observance of a special diet that forms part of fasting. The women folk stand in a circle and move around gracefully in a rhythm that is typified by clapping of hands.

Kathakali

Kathakali exactly meaning 'story-dance' is the dance-drama of Malabar which is now culturally and politically known as Kerala’s soul. It was believed that Kathakali was conceived from Krishnanaattam, the dance drama on the life and activities of Lord Krishna created by the Zamorin of Calicut. The costume of Kathakali has been much influenced by Chaakkyaar koothu and Koodiyattam the two older forms of dramatic illustration in vogue in Kerala. The history of their origins dates back to the period of Perumals i.e. much earlier to the introduction of Raamanaattam.

Mohiniattam

Mohiniattam was raise in the region of Kerala in southwestern India. The name Mohiniattam literally means 'Dance of the Enchantress,' and it does have a mesmerizing quality. The white and gold costume, arresting hairstyle and the highly graceful movements in medium tempo, contribute to this aesthetic effect.

Mohiniattam is differentiated by convincing movements of the upper body with legs placed in a stance similar to the plie position. The eyes play an important role in accenting the direction of the movement.

Mention of Mohiniattam is found in some eighteenth century texts, but the practical aspect of the style was revitalized in the reign of Maharaja Swati Tirunal, a 19th century ruler who was a great patron of the arts. Under Swati Tirunal, Mohiniattam crystallized as a solo dance tradition with musical compositions set to the Carnatic style of music and a distinct repertoire.

Procession of elephants

The extraordinary procession of elephants is one of the major tourist attractions of Onam and attracts thousands of people from India and abroad. A golden plate beatifically designed with different size golden babbles called “Nettippattam” is placed on elephant’s forehead which enhances the elephants look more attractive. The long stemmed ceremonial silk and satin umbrellas laced with white metal or silver are placed on top of the animal. Elephants adorned with gold plates on their forehead and umbrellas on top present a majestic sight. A colourful silk robe, some jewelry and body painting adds to the looks. These pachyderm amuses its audience especially children by shaking its trunk and the big body a little along with the rhythm. The procession is added with feasting, dance, music and merrymaking. The most impressive and good-looking animal gets the honor of being a part of the procession.

Onakkodi

Children are particularly thrilled on Onam as they get lots of gift from their parents, uncles, aunts, grandparents, family friends and close relatives especially new dresses called Onakkodi .`

Sending Onam Gifts like dry chips, sweet chips and snacks through courier has become very popular. Online Onam shopping sites exists and many of them have the provision to send Onam Gifts with their own delivery channel. This makes it convenient for the people to send Onam Gifts at desired places around the globe.

Onam greetings and messages.

Similar to sending Christmas and New Year greetings, sending of heart felt Onam Messages preferably in Malayalam and onam greeting cards to the near and dear have become very popular.
Thiruonam Aashamsakal
To everyone, my Onam Wishes !
May the spirit of Onam appear everywhere at all times!!
Aayiram Aayiram onasamsakal.
Onasadhya

Onasadhya or onamsadya (Meals) is the most favorite and tasty part of the Onam festival. It is considered the most elaborate and grand meal all set for any festival in the world.

Dishes for Onasadya. Number of dishes may go upto 13. Earlier, Onasaya used to be even more elaborate than depicted above. There were about 64 mandatory dishes - eight varieties each of the eight dishes. At that time three banana leaves were served one under the other to accommodate all the dishes.

There is an old saying “'Kaanam Vittum Onam Unnanam” means “people should prepare Onam Sadya, even selling all there possessions".

Rich or the poor, everybody, prepares Onasadya in a grand fashion as people of Kerala are extremely devotional and passionate when it comes to Onasadya.

The food has to be serving on a tender Banana leaf, laid with the end to the left hand side. The meal is traditionally served on a mat laid on the floor. A strict order of serving the dishes one after another is obeyed. Besides, there are clear directions as to what will be served in which part of the banana leaf.

Major items. Pappad or Pappadum, banana (can be 'Rasakadali', 'Poovan', 'Palayankodan'). - Salt, banana wafers, sarkarapuratti fries, ginger, lime and mango pickles, 'vellarika', 'pavakka', 'beetroot' and 'ulli kitchadi'. 'Kitchadi' made of pineapple and banana splits or of grapes and apple, 'cabbage thoran' or thoran made of beans and avial, bread and green peas mix 'thoran'', kootucurry, 'parippu curry, ghee, Sambhar, Rasam, butter milk, curd, adaprathaman Payasam, erissery,

Kalan or Pulisseri, Olan, Mulakoshyam etc

Vallamkali

Vallamkali or the Snake Boat Race is the most enchanting facet of the festival of Onam and an important tourist attraction of the state of Kerala and draws a large number of domestic and international tourists.Vallamkali or the Snake Boat Race popularity is soaring up every year. Major boat races are:

Nehru Trophy Boat Race.
This largest and colorful event is held on the Punnamada Backwaters of Alappuzha district on the second Saturday in the month of August. It is Started in the year 1952, in an spontaneous fashion in honor of the late Prime Minister, Nehru Trophy Boat Race is the biggest team sport event in the world today. Amazing boat show held before the actual race is the other highlight of the event.
Aranmulla vallam kali.
This colourful spectacle of the race is performed on the banks of the river Pamba at Aranmulla where a temple dedicated to Lord Krishna.
Nearly 30 chundan vallams join in the festival. Singing customary boat songs, the oarsmen, in white dhotis and turbans, spatter their oars into the water to guide their boats to cruise along like a fish on the move. The golden lace at the head of the boat, the flag and the ornamental umbrella at the center make it a spectacular show of pageantry too.
Each snake boat belongs to a village along the banks of the River Pampa and is worshipped like a divinity. Every year the boat is oiled mainly with fish oil, coconut shell, and carbon, mixed with eggs to keep the wood strong and the boat slippery in the water.
The one end of the boat is shaped like cobra’s head and it is from this shape that boat has derived its name. Skilled craftsmen and a lot of patience carefully craft each boat. The boat is about 100 feet long and usually made of anjili (Artocarpus hirsuta), or sometimes teak and kadamb (Naucleacadamba) wood is also used.
Each boat comprises of 150 men of whom four are helmsmen, 25 men are singers and 125 are the actual oarsmen.Women also participate with lot of enthusiasm in a separate the boat race conducted for them.
Several other boat races at Thalavady, Kumarakam, Mannar, Thiruvandoo, Neerattupuram etc. are also conducted in the various rivers of Kerala and draw massive public attention.