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Onam is celebrated by the Malayalis
Onam festival is celebrated in the malayali month of Chingam it the first according to the Malayali calendar
Significance
Onam is one of the most important and religious festivals of Kerala, India. This festival is celebrated for at least 10 days and is connected to many basic culture and customs of Kerala. This is a very old festival, but still retains its significant place in Indian culture.
Legends say that Kerala has gone through its golden period during the time of King Mahabali. Each and every person in his kingdom was happy and prosperous and he was really appreciated by his subjects. Apart from all his good deeds and virtues he had one fault in him, that he was an egoistic person. For all the good work he had done had a boom that was granted by God was that he will annually get to visit his people with whom he was closely attached.
Therefore considering this as Mahabali visit for his subjects this festival Onam is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm. People celebrate this festival in a very grand manner in order to impress their beloved King Mahabali.
During these ten days Kerala's rich and heritage culture blooms out in its most excellent way. The main part of this festival is the feast that takes place which is called as the Onasadya; this is prepared on the Thiruonam. This is the nine course meal which includes about 11 to 13 dishes in it. This meal is served on a banana leaves and people have this sitting on the mat that is laid on the floor.
Another main part of this festival is the vallamkali; it is the snake boat race which is held every year in the river Pampa. People enjoy the colorful view of the river. These boats are decorated and the boats are crowed with hundreds of boatman sitting in the boat. These boatmen are cheered by people who have come to see the race with lots of enthusiasm.
There are many tradition games that are to be played by the people collectively and this is called as Onakalikal. Men enjoy sports like Talappaanthukali, ambeyyal, kayyankali, kutukutu and attakalam. Women are interested in cultural activities like flower mat, rangoli and pookalam. Women also enjoy the culture dance form like kaikotti kali and the thumbi thullal.
Traditional food
The traditional food prepared on this festival are the sambhar, avial, thotan, dry fruit kheer, rice puttu, payasam and theeyal. There are many such dishes that are prepared during this festival.
People of Kerala buy new dresses for this festival and get dressed in a very beautiful way. People enjoy this festival with great fun and respect. They visit temple and conduct puja's at their home.
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