Write up for "How Onam is Celebrated" for Christina - (Review/Revert)

[george jacob]

Hi All,

Following is the write up for Christina on "How Onam is Celebrated" ; this will succeed Aaron's narration on the legend behind "Onam".

Courtesy wiki :)

//quote

How Onam is celebrated in Kerala

Onam is Kerala's rice harvest festival and the Festival of Rain Flowers. It is in honour of King Mahabali that Onam is celebrated. The deity Vamana, also called Onatthappan, is also revered during this time by placing a clay figure next to the floral carpet (Pookalam) .The ten day Onam festival is considered to be flagged off with Atthachamayam (Royal Parade on Atham Day) in Thripunithara (a suburb of Kochi City). The parade is colourful and depicts all the elements of Kerala culture with more than 50 floats and 100 tableaux.People start putting atha-pookalams from Atham ( First day of 10 days festival ) till thiruvonam the 10^th day. The Onam sadya (feast) is another very indispensable part of Thiruvonam. The feast is served on plantain leaves and consists of more than 20 dishes.

Traditional dance forms including Thiruvathira, Kummattikali, Pulikali, Thumbi Thullal etc. are performed as part of celebrations all over Kerala at this time. Vallamkali (the snake boat race) is another event that is synonymous with Onam.About 100 oarsmen row huge and graceful snake boats through the waters of Punnamada lake for the coveted Nehru Trophy; men and women come from far and near to watch this.

The tradition of buying and wearing new clothes for the occasion of Onam is called the Onakkodi.The swing is another integral part of Onam, especially in the rural areas. Young men and women, decked in their best, sing Onappaatt, or Onam songs, and rock one another on swings slung from high branches.

Most cities in Kerala, such as the political, commercial and cultural capitals Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Thrissur, are lit up with lights and fabulous displays of fireworks on Thiruvonam.Normally the two following days after Thiruvonam, are also celebrated as Third and Fourth Onam. The third Onam, called Avvittom marks the preparations for King Mahabali's ascension to heavens. The main ritual of the day is to take the Onathappan statue which was placed in the middle of every Pookalam during the past 10 days and immerse it in nearby rivers or sea. The pookkalam will be cleaned and removed after this. The day is also important, as the famous Pulikali is held in the city of Thrissur. In this, men dressed as lions and tigers parade through the city in large numbers. The Puli-Kali also marks the end of traditional Onam celebrations.

The fourth day of Onam is called as Chatayam. The official government celebrations ends on this day with a mega dance festival in the capital city- Thiruvananthapuram.

//unquote

Thanks,

Ditta

[rejesh nambiar]

George,

All is well....

References to Kerala cities can be avoided and put as the common festivities across.. just a suggestion

Thanks & Regards
Rejesh K Keloth

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