Onam Festival-The Grand Carnival of Kerala

Onam is a Harvest festival celebrated in the Land of attraction state called Kerala, Its the biggest and most important festival of Indian state of Kerala. Grand Carnival of Onam is celebrated on the Malayalam month of Chingam every year on the marks the homecoming of legendary king Mahabali.

The ten days monsoon festival is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm with various festivities like special cuisines,Vallamkali,Puli Kali and Banquet lunches.

Pookalam

Pookalam is a conventional floral design art, created during the biggest festival of Onam.Various designs of flowers carpets are created at the entrance of home to welcome the great king Mahabali. Onam flower carpet competition is also conducted by the people.

Onam Sadya

During the Onam Sadya traditional Onam recipes are served on banana leaves for dinner to celebrate the festival of Onam. It includes grand feast and variety of cuisines between 13-25 traditional dishes like Rice, Sambar,Fish Curry pickles, papadam and payasam dessert. The cuisine of Onam are very delicious and tasty.

Onappottan

Onappottan is a folk character appears only during the season of Onam festival. It is a symbol of great King Mahabali who visits every household to collect rice, clothes and gives blessings. Onappottan wears a traditional costume with face painted,a bell and umbrella in his both hands with a crown. Follow to know more about famous Traditional Art Forms of Kerala.

Kaikottikkali

Kaikottkali is a traditional dance of Kerala and regarded as beautiful ritual Art, performed during the “Bhagvat Saptaham” on the occasion of Onam. Kaikottkali is also known as Thiruvathirakali, It is the most popular folk dance and only perform by married women and young maidens in traditional attire. Its unique feature and art makes it one of the most extremely elegant dance.

Vallam Kali

Vallam Kali or snake boat races is a traditional sport of Kerala and only conducted during the harvest festival Onam. The snake boat races has become one of the major tourist attraction in the past few years and conducted at various places like at Aranmula, Ashtamudi lake,Punnamada Lake, Kallada River and Kumarakom lake. The traditional longboat race of Chundan Vallam is the major event and Nehru Trophy Boat Race is a most popular Vallam Kali in Punnamada Lake of Alappuzha.

Puli Kali

Puli Kali or Tiger dance is the form of rural folk art dance perform during the fourth day of the onam festival. Artists performs the tigers dance in the streets by painted like tigers and hunters on beats of instruments. Puli Kali is one of the major attractions of Onam festivities and Swaraj Round, Thrissur is best place to watch this traditional dance.