Here is an account of the ten days of Onam
festival celebrations.
Ten Days of Onam
The festival of Onam is celebrated for ten days in the state of Kerala.
In some regions of the state festivities are restricted to four to six
days only. According, to historians and scholars the festivities have
changed with the passage of time. In earlier days, Onam was celebrated
for a month and much more lavishly. Nevertheless, Onam is still
celebrated with gaiety and joy on all the ten days of the festivities.
There are set rituals for each day and the traditional people of Kerala
dutifully follow them. The mood of the people is upbeat all through the
carnival and the high spirited people of Kerala are ever ready to
indulge in merriment. Of all these days the first day Atham and the
tenth day Thiruvonam are the most significant ones. Ninth day Uthradam
is also considered to be extremely important from the point of view of
celebrations in several parts of Kerala.
Atham - Day One
First day is an important one and is considered holy and auspicious by
the people of Kerala.
Chithira - Day Two
On the second day of Onam, people add to the size of the Pookalam with
different flowers.
Chodhi - Day Three
Size of the Attha Poo gets further increased with an addition of design
with different flowers.
Visakam - Day Four
Brisk activities in the market and households can be witnessed on the
day of Visakam.
Anizham - Day Five
High point of the day is the grand boat race event called Vallamkali.
Thriketa - Day Six
People, who may be staying away from their homes, start coming to their
homes as the main day approaches.
Moolam - Day Seven
With just two days left for the festival now, enthusiasm grips the
state of Kerala.
Pooradam - Day Eight
The day holds significance in Onam festivities. Devotees create clay
idols in the shape of small pyramids.
Uthradam - Day Nine
It is a day prior to Thiruvonam. Some people begin festivities on a
large scale on this day.
Thiruvonam - Day Ten
The biggest day of all, is the tenth day called Thiruvon.