Onam 2022: All you need to know about the 6 events that take place during annual harvest festival

Onam, the 10-day-long harvest festival, marks the beginning of the Malayalam year Kollavarshamis. Known for its cultural activities, dances, parades and processions, this festival is celebrated with great gusto throughout the state of Kerala.

Updated on: Aug 26, 2022 1:17 PM IST

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Onam, the annual Malayali harvest festival, is celebrated during the Malayali month of Chingam (August - September) and marks the homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali. This year, it will be celebrated from August 30 to September 8. Here are the six events that take place during the festival. (HT Photo/Vivek Nair)

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Pulikali (Tiger dance): This folk dance form is performed during the fourth day of the Onam festival. On this day devotees disguise themselves as tiger by painting their faces and bodies like tigers with stripes of yellow, red and black and dance to the rhythm of traditional percussion instruments such as thakil, udukku and chenda. (AFP)

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Onam Sadhya (Grand meal): This special traditional meal is prepared on Onam and is served on a banana leaf. It features more than 24 items that sometimes go up to 64 dishes. (Instagram/@alreefpanasiabh)

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Folk Dances: No festival is complete without traditional folk music and dance. Kaikottikali is a temple dance that is performed mostly by women during the Malayalam festival Onam in Kerala. (Instagram/@nrityanjali_mumbai)

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Pookalam (Floral rangoli): This is a floral floor decoration that is made using fresh flowers. ‘Poo’ stands for flower and ‘Kolam’ stands for design in Malayalam. This floral carpet symbolises the spirit of unity. (Unsplash)

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Tripunithura Athachamayam: This is celebrated exclusively in the town of Tripunithura. It signifies the triumphant march of the Maharaja of Kochi from Tripunithura to the Vamana Temple in Thrikkakara. (Pexels)

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Vallamkali (Boat race): Aranmula Boat Race or Aranmula Uthrittathi Vallamkali is a grand event and is one of the most ancient and revered boat races of Kerala that is held on the day of Uthrittathi asterism. (Instagram/@b_anandu_nair)