The festival of Onam is being celebrated by the people of Kerala today.
In Kochi, an Onam feast was arranged for the destitute on Thursday.
Onam, which is also known as ‘Onasadhya’, is a Hindu festival celebrated in Kerala.
Regarded as the state festival of Kerala, the event is observed for four days, starting from Onam Eve (Uthradom) and going on to the third Onam Day.
The festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (August to September) and marks the commemoration of the Vamana Avatar of Lord Vishnu as well as the subsequent homecoming of the mythical Kerala King Mahabali, whom Malayalees consider as their monarch.
In Kerala, a number of cultural elements such as Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Pookkalam, Onathappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan and Atthachamayam mark Onam.
Onam is also reminiscent of Kerala’s agrarian past, as it is considered to be a harvest festival.
