Onam Festival
The Onam festival is an annual Hindu harvest festival celebrated in Kerala, India. The Keralites celebrate Onam in various ways. This is the official festival of Kerala and includes an assortment of cultural events. The festival’s theme is rooted in Hindu mythology and honors King Mahabali and his wife Vamana. Here are some fun facts about this traditional Hindu festival. Also known as the “Raisin Festival”, Onam is a popular holiday in India.
The first day of the Onam festival is called Atham. According to mythology, Atham is the day that Mahabali starts preparing to descend to the earth. The first day of Onam is marked by the beginning of the process of designing the Pookalam, a special decoration of yellow flowers, which grows larger every day. This is also the day that Vamana statues are installed in households. On the third day, the cleaning of houses begins, and on the fourth day, the competition is held for the Vallamkali Boat Race. The boats are decorated with different designs, and several people come to witness this competition.
Onam festival is celebrated for 10 days, during which the ‘Malay’ people of Kerala get busy preparing for the festivities. The inauguration of the festival is colorful, and different forms of Kerala art and dance are performed. Carnival floats, decorated elephants, and musical performances are also part of the festivities. And, of course, there’s Onasadya – the sweet thrown during the celebration.
Pongal Celebrations
The final day of the Pongal festival is Kanum Pongal. This day marks the end of the Pongal celebrations for the year and includes family gatherings, visits from neighbors, and greetings. Children pay homage to elders and older relatives. Pongal celebrations also involve elaborate rangolis (traditional art forms that use rice powder) adorning the doorways and home entrances. The five-petal flower that is a symbol of fertility and prosperity is traditionally placed in these rangolis and left outside for the birds to eat.
The festival is dedicated to various deities, including Lord Indra and the sage Hema. It is also a time for families to reunite as they share a meal and seek the blessings of elders. Pongal has evolved from a farmers’ festival to a festival for all Tamils. In some parts of Tamil-speaking countries, the festival is celebrated as “Paadai Nonbu” or the “Four-Faced Festival.”
The festival lasts for several days and is celebrated all over South India. The celebrations begin when the sun crosses the equator. Traditionally, the festival begins on the 15th of January, the day that the sun moves from the southern to the northern hemisphere. The harvest festival is believed to be an auspicious time for the farmers as it marks the beginning of the harvest season and the sun’s six-month journey northward.
Thrissur Pooram
Thrissur Pooram is an annual religious festival celebrated in temples dedicated to goddesses Kali and Durga. This festival is celebrated throughout the Valluvanadu area and the surrounding areas of north central Kerala. The Harimattom pooram in Ernakulam is one of the most famous poorams in the region. You should definitely try it at least once in your lifetime. Here are a few of the top things to do during the festival.
The Thrissur Pooram is marked by a large temple complex. The main temples in Thrissur are Thiruvambady and Paramekkavu. The temple complex was renovated during the reign of Sakthan Thampuran. He is credited with building the four massive gopurams. He also stripped the Namboodiris of their powers and took charge of the temple’s administration.
The night pooram begins at 11 pm. It moves from Kulassery temple to Sreemoolasthanam. Then, the devi visits the neithal kavu temple and returns to her chiyyaram. Then, the celebrations continue with the “Utram Vilakku” Ezhunnallippu, which includes three elephants. Fire works and pachari melam are the highlight of the night pooram.
The Thrissur Pooram is an annual Hindu festival which has grown in size over the centuries and now attracts scores of foreign and domestic tourists. The Pooram preparations begin months in advance. Flags are raised at the two major participating temples. As the ten temples of the town come together for the Pooram, there are many people who are in the town to celebrate it. They also visit the Vadakumnathan Temple, the oldest temple in Thrissur.
Hampi Festival
The Hampi Festival has many elements. Some are religious, while others are cultural. Many attract huge crowds each year. Although the dates of Hampi Festival are not set in stone, the schedule is usually publicized each year in advance. A festival is not complete without the popular traditional dances, folk songs, and processions. Listed below are some highlights of Hampi Festival. To get an idea of what the festival has to offer, check out the schedule.
The concluding day of the Hampi festival is marked by an elephant procession, called the Jumbo Savari. This ancient ritual is a reminder of the splendor of the ancient empire. The elephant procession, which takes place on the third day of the festival, is an overcrowding event in Hampi. Along the route of the procession are men on foot, on horseback, and dressed as medieval soldiers. As the festival concludes, people in Hampi try to relive the heyday of the ancient empire through the festival.
The festival is a great time to visit the site. It was once considered the largest and most flourishing city of the Vijayanagar Empire, one of the largest empires in Indian history. The Hampi Festival brings color, music, and dance to the ancient ruins. A variety of arts and crafts will be showcased throughout the day. It’s the perfect time to see the ancient ruins in their glory. So, get ready to get a little dirty!
Mysore Dasara
Mysore Dasara is a ten-day festival in the Indian state of Karnataka. It begins with nine nights of Navaratri and ends on Vijayadashami. It is celebrated by locals and tourists alike. There are several things you should know about Mysore Dasara to enjoy the festivities. Read on to find out more! This festival celebrates the victory of good over evil, the triumph of good over evil, and all the in-between.
Mysore Dasara is an important Hindu festival in India, and it is held at the palace grounds. Throughout the day, stalls sell all sorts of curios, including handcrafted jewelry and embroidered garments. Many of the stalls also feature displays of various departments of the state government. There are also fun fair rides and a play area for children. While you’re at it, you can also enjoy the Food and Film festival.
Mysore Dasara is an annual festival that takes place in the month of September or October. During the festival, the city comes alive with cultural programs. The Golden Throne is brought out of the palace for public viewing during Dasara. The festival is celebrated for ten days and concludes on the day of Vijayadashami, the most auspicious day of the celebration. According to legend, the festival marks the triumph of good over evil because it is the day when Goddess Chamundeshwari killed the demon Mahishasura. This year, the festival marks its 400th anniversary.
After the procession, the festival is closed with a torchlight parade. The parade starts with a procession of elephants, led by 55-year-old tusker Abhimanyu. This procession ends with a torchlight parade. This parade takes place on the Bannimantap Parade grounds. The Dasara committee assures the chief minister that they will find an eminent personality to inaugurate the festival.
Chithirai Thiruvizha MaduraI
Chithirai Thiruvizha MaduraI is celebrated on the occasion of the birth of Meenakshi, the divine ruler of Madurai. She was originally to be married off to Lord Shiva but instead became a queen and conquered the regions around Madurai. The two met in Kailasham, where Meenakshi fell in love with Lord Shiva and he promised to marry her. Hence, the first half of the Chithirai festival is dedicated to her.
In the story, Lord Alagar, who lived in Alagarkoil, was on his way to attend the wedding of his sister Meenakshi with Sundareshwara when he reached Madurai. As he was late, people told him that his sister had married without him. As soon as he learned of the wedding date, he was furious and went back to his village, which he did. Meenakshi and Lord Shiva were very pleased with this gift, which Alagar then offered them to the couple.
The temple is also undergoing renovations ahead of the car festival. The Chithirai Thiruvizha celebration at the Alagar Koyil temple takes place on the fourth day of the festival. The chariot of the temple is currently being repaired and is expected to be ready by April 15.
Vishu Festival Kerala
If you’ve been thinking of traveling to Kerala during the Hindu festival of Vishu, you’ve come to the right place. Vishu Kerala is a cultural festival celebrated throughout the state, but is also observed in Tamil Nadu, Mangalore, and the Udupi region of Karnataka. Even diaspora communities celebrate this celebration.
Although Vishu is a Hindu festival, the festival is observed by people of any faith in Kerala, and is celebrated by people of all religions – though many do not observe the religious customs associated with the holiday. The ‘Kani’ in the name of the festival represents the first sighting of the gods and represents a family gathering, as well as a feast with equal parts sour, bitter, and sweet items. On the night of Vishu, families gather together to break crackers in celebration of the festival.
The day of Vishu begins early, around 5 AM. People gather around the kani, which is usually a golden shower tree. An elder family member takes each family member to a room where they are supposed to see the kani. The children then crack fires and give each member a piece of kaineetom. This tradition has been practiced in Kerala for a number of years. While this ritual is not widely observed, it does offer an interesting perspective on the culture of Kerala.
Ugadi Festival in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana
On the first day of the Ugadi festival, people give holy oil bath and change their clothes. They also decorate their homes with rangolis and mango leaves. Strings of mango leaves are tied to the entrances of houses to symbolize the new year. People visit temples for divine blessings on Ugadi. Some even prepare for the festival a week early!
The Ugadi festival is celebrated in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The festival marks the new year for those who live between the Kaveri River and Vindhyas and follow the lunar calendar. The Ugadi calendar is said to have originated in the Shalivahana era, which was built by the legendary king Shalivahana, who was also known as Gautamiputra Satakarni.
People in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana wear new clothes on the Ugadi festival. In addition to wearing new clothes, people tie mango festoons to their doors and decorate their homes with fresh flowers. The eldest family member reads the Panchanga Sravanam, the pancha-sangraha. Learned pandits make annual forecasts for the Ugadi day. Families prepare special dishes to celebrate the day and exchange sweets with friends and family.
This is the first day of the Hindu year, and is a major celebration in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Telengana. People wear new clothes, feast on delicious food, and clean their homes. People also make rangolis, which are ‘holy’ patterns on the floor. If you’ve ever celebrated the Ugadi festival, you should try it!
Mahamaham Festival in Tamilnadu
The Mahamaham festival in Tamilnadu takes place during a time when the moon is in proximity to the Maham constellation. The festival lasts for ten days and is held during the Tamil month of Masi (February or March in the Gregorian calendar). The festival fills the soul with positivity and is considered a Hindu festival. Many pilgrims come to Kumbakonam during this time to celebrate this auspicious event.
Onam is a harvest festival that brings people from different castes, communities, and religions together. The festival is said to be the time when the mythical king Mahabali checks in on his subjects. The festival lasts ten days, with the first and last days being the most significant. In addition to the traditional dance performances, the festival is also known as the festival of the rain flowers.
During the festival, Hindu devotees bathe in the holy tank which is said to contain the confluence of all the sacred rivers of India. According to Hindu belief, taking a dip in the holy tank cleanses the soul and is equivalent to a dip in all the holy rivers. During the festival, the town of Kumbakonam bustles with festivities and gets decorated with bright colors.
A visit to the Mahamaham festival is a must if you want to explore the cultural diversity of the people of Tamil Nadu. It offers a glimpse into the lives of southern Indians and is a great way to experience the diversity that makes this state so popular with visitors. Just remember to pack your bags – the crowds are expected to be high and the energies to run high.
