Also known as Athapookkalam or Onapookkalam, it is set up on the floors of homes, offices or public places during Onam festival in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August-September) to welcome the homecoming of mythical King Mahabali. The very sight of Pookkalam or flower carpet ushers in the warmth and vibrancy of Onam festival to our hearts.
Onam is celebrated with a colourful feast served on a banana leaf called ‘Sadhya’. Sadhya is basically the term coined for the feast that is a part of the 10th day of the annual harvest festival Onam, which is also called ‘Onam Sadhya’. The feast is known for its flavours and varieties of dishes.
Vallam-kali is a traditional boat race in Kerala, India. It is a form of canoe racing, uses paddled war canoes. It is conducted mainly during the season of the harvest festival Onam in spring. Vallam-kali includes races of many kinds of paddled longboats know as 'snake boats'. Each team spends about 6-7 lakh rupees for the Nehru Trophy.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race named after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is conducted on the second Saturday of August every year, on the Punnamda Lake, near Alappuzha. On the day of this fiercely fought boat race, the tranquil lake front is transformed into a sea of humanity with an estimated two lakh people, including tourists from abroad for watching it. For the people of each village in Kuttanad, a victory at this race for their village boat is something to be celebrated for months to come.
4. Pulikali
Pulikkali is a recreational folk art from in the state of Kerala. It is performed by trained artists to entertain people on the occasion of Onam, the annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. The usual time for the celebration of Pulikali is the first week of September on the occasion of Onam. The artists come up with many enactments of different forms that are indeed colorful. Pulikali is a very bright display of recreational folk art in the form of dances. The time for Onam is the perfect time to hit the state as the whole of the state remains engulfed in the festivity mood.
5. Tripunithura Athachamayam
Athachamayam marks the beginning of the ten-day Onam festival in Kerala. It is an occasion to witness almost all the folk art forms of Kerala.
Conducted every year on the Atham asterism of the Malayalam month Chingam (Leo), the event held at the historical town of Thripunithura is a celebration of a legendary victory of the Raja (King) of Kochi. In olden days it was customary for the king to travel with his entire entourage to the Thripunithura fort. This was also the occasion for his subjects to greet the king and see him at close quarters. The procession, now without the king, still retains its majestic charm, and is conducted in a spectacular manner.
6. Aranmula Valla Sadya
Valla Sadya is a celebration in the Hindu temple at Aranmula, Kerala, India. During the festival, the village conducts a snake boat race in the Pampa River, and there is a feast at the temple. The Valla Sadhya is conducted on Ashtamirohoni day.
