Onam - a festival of Kerala

Food, colorful clothes, and fun - that is what Onam is all about.

The festival of Onam is celebrated in the state of Kerala every year. It is a harvest festival which is very popular among the natives irrespective of religion, caste or creed.

People usually buy new clothes and other stuff during the onam season so as to avail of huge discounts.

Traders and shopkeepers make sure they stock well before time and also offer huge discounts to take advantage of the spending spree during the festival the duration of which is ten days.

Buying new clothes and gifting to friends and relatives is a common practice among Malayalees, the natives of Kerala.

The above image is that of the SET MUNDU, the traditional dress of the lady. This is un-stitched material. It is worn just like one drapes the half-saree. Nowadays, there are several you tube videos instructing the viewer on how to wear the saree and set mundu.

The men wear mundu and shirt or Tshirt as they please. White is a favorite 'color' of the Malayalee and you can see most people in white on festival days and during weddings or other such occassions like temple festivities.

Banana chips are the staple of Kerala. Raw bananas are sliced thin and fried in coconut oil. During the onam season, the price goes up as the demand is really high, with people buying large quantities to gift to friends, office collegues and so on.

The main day of the Onam festival is the THIRUVONAM day. People get up early, decorate the houses with flowers and offer sweets to the 'ONATHAPPAN' and visit temples. The womenfolk prepare a feast and the menfolk also help because it is not a simple affair. The people then visit their relatives after the feast and gift clothes and chips.

Onam is also a time when the Malayalees living in other states and countries visit their Tharavadu or native place. Special trains, buses and even planes are scheduled for this purpose.

set mundu image source
all other images - self