The Ten Days of Celebration

Celebration of Onam

The Ten Days of Celebration

Atham The first day of Onam Celebrations starts with Atham day in the Malayalam month of Chingam. It is believed that King Mahabali starts his preparations to descend from Pathala to Kerala on this day.

Chithira The second day is marked off when a second layer is added to pookkalam design with 2 different colours apart from yellow mostly orange and creamy yellow. On this day, people start cleaning the household to prepare for the Thiruvonam day.

Chodhi The third day of Onam Celebrations.The pookalam now will start growing in its size by adding new layers or designs with at least 4 to 5 different flowers. The day also marks the start of shopping activities.

Vishakam The fourth day of Onam Celebrations.Vishakam is considered to be one of the most auspicious days of Onam. In olden days, the markets open their harvest sale on this day,

Anizham The fifth day of Onam Celebrations, Snake Boats get ready to race in the Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali. Anizham is one of the most important day in the Onam days as it kicks off the great Vallam Kali Snake boat at many parts of Kerala.

Thriketa The sixth day of Onam Celebrations. By the sixth day, the public frenzy starts building up. Most of the schools and public offices give holiday from this day onwards and people start packing their bags to their native homes to celebrate the festival with their dear ones.

Moolam The seventh day of Onam Celebrations. On the seventh day, the smaller versions of traditional Ona Sadya Onam special buffet lunch start in many places. Most of the temples offers special sadhyas on from this day.

Pooradam The eight day of Onam Celebrations. The day starts off with a major traditional ritual where the small statues of Mahabali and Vamana will be washed and cleaned and taken around the house in a procession.

Uthradom The ninth day of Onam Celebrations. Uthradom is the ninth and the penultimate day of the festival of Onam. It is considered as Onam eve and celebrated in a very big way.

hiruvonam The tenth day of Onam Celebrations The final day of Onam that culminates the 10 days of Onam Carnival. The day is known as Thiru Onam Sacred Onam Day also known as econd Onam.