Onam 2011 Celebrations

Making of a Pookalam

Athapoovu is circular shaped and multi-tiered colourful arrangements of flowers, petals and leaves normally laid on the front court yard of the house. Making pookalam is starts on ‘Atham’ which is the first day of the ten day celebrations. It continues till ‘thiruvonam’ the last and important day.Commonly used flowers include Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu, Mukkutti (little tree plant), Chemparathy (shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana), Hanuman Kireedom (Red pagoda plant) and Chethi (Ixora).

Tiruvonam

The tenth and the most important day of Onam celebrations is known as Thiru Onam or the Tiru Onam. People believe that s on this tenth day king Mahabali comes to visit his people.In the noon the grand feast of Onam called Onasadya is prepared. The strictly vegetarian meal consists of 11 - 13 mandatory dishes and is served on a banana leaf. The major celebrations get over on the tenth and the most important day Tiruvonam.

Sravanmahotsav

The festival of Onam is celebrated on the full moon day in the holy month of Shravan. So
Onam is termed as Sravanotsavam or Sravanmahotsav.

Onakkalikal

Talappanthukali- The most popular outdoor game is Pantukali in which the ball is prepared by tying a few pebbles in the layers of dried-up plantain leaves with the help of a plantain or coconut fiber.
Kayyankali-In this game participants fight to each other and is dangerous game Attakalam-Attakalam is also a game of physical strength. Ambeyyal-Ambeyyal is actually the game of ‘archery’. Kutukutu – It is a type of kabadi