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Did you know that Onam is not a Hindu but a Malayali festival? That’s right! Interesting facts about Onam state that this harvest festival has been an important part of the Malayalee culture in India. It is Mythologically related to Malayalee-Hindu folktales and is celebrated by people of all castes and religions. In 2024, Onam started on 6 September and will conclude on 15 September. It is the right time to engage your students in this 10-day festival and teach them more about the importance of Indian festivals and cultures. In this blog, you will find interesting unknown facts about Onam festival of Kerala along with downloadable pictures.
Facts About Onam Festival for Kids
1. Onam is the popular 10-day harvest festival of India.
2. The 10 days of Onam are Atham, Chithira, Chodi, Vishakam, Anizham, Thriketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradom, Thiruvonam, and lastly, Avvittom.
3. People also organise a grand feast called Onam Sadya on the 3rd day of Onam for their friends and relatives. It includes 13 dishes prepared and served on banana leaves.
4. On the 9th day of Onam, people give vegetables and coconut oil as gifts to the eldest member of the family. This ritual is known as Karanavar.
5. It falls on the 22nd of Nakshatra Thiruvonam in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam.
6. The festival is usually celebrated in the months of August and September.
7. It marks the beginning of the Malayalam calendar year, also known as Kolla Varsham.
8. People celebrate the festival of Onam with Vallam Kali (boat racing), Pullaki (tiger dances), and Pookkalam (flower rangoli).
9. The celebration of Onam celebrates the return of Mahabali, a mythical king, who was revered by Malayalees as their king.
10. During this festival, people perform the traditional dance known as Kaikotti Kali or Thiruvathira Kali.
11. People place three small-sized statues made of red sand on the verandahs of their homes. It is an important part of the Maveli Puja.
12. Although it is majorly a Kerala festival, Onam is popularly celebrated in other states including Uttar Prades, Gujarat, and Maharashtra.
13. Every year hundreds of boats are decorated for people to participate in the popular Snake Boat Race.
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FAQs
Onam is a 10-day festival celebrated with various cultural events in states like Kerala and Maharashtra. The common ways of celebrating this festival include traditional boat races, making pookalam or rangoli, and preparing a grand feast known as Onam Sadya.
Onam is celebrated in the months of August or September according to the Malayalam calendar.
People of Kerala celebrate Onam to celebrate the arrival of King Mahabali. Every year the king arrives to meet his subjects and ensure their well-being and prosperity.
Hope you had fun reading interesting facts about Onam festival. If you want to know more about topics like this, then visit our Interesting Facts and General Knowledge page!