Onam

Celebrated this year on date 27th August 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.