ONAM
Onam is an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. It is the foremost festival among the cultural repertoire of Malayalees and falls during the month of Chingam (August-September) the first month of the Malayalam calender and lasts for ten days. Though it is essentially a harvest festival of Malayalees, mythologically it is linked to Malayalee-Hindu folktales. Like some other religious festivals in India, Onam is celebrated by people across all castes and faiths.
Significance of Onam
Onam has been part of Malayalee psyche for centuries. There are records of Onam being celebrated during the Sangam Age. Onam festivities have been recorded during the time of Kulasekhara Perumals around A.D 800. It is believed that during those days the whole of Chingam was celebrated as Onam season. After the rain drenched month of Karkidakam with its privations, Chingam is a welcome month for people in the state of Kerala. The festival is the harbinger of spring - signaling the start of the harvest season. Onam epitomizes the newfound vigor and enthusiasm of the season, and is celebrated with traditional fevour with visit to temples, family get-togethers, gifting each other clothes called Onakkodi and lots of merry making.
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