The colorful mosaic of Kerala festivals and fairs is as diverse as the land, is an expression of the spirit of celebration, that is an essential part of the State. Observed with enthusiasm and gaiety, festivals are like gems, ornamenting the crown of Kerala tradition and culture. Round the year the fests keep Kerala life vibrant and interludes in the mundane affairs of life.
Every season turns up new festivals, each a true celebration of the bounties of nature. The festivals exhibits an eternal harmony of spirit. Packed with fun and excitement, festivals are occasions to clean and decorate houses, to get together with friends and relatives and to exchange gifts.
There's a famous legend in Kerala about sweet memories of a period of peace and prosperity in the distant past when Mahabali, a celebrated emperor of the Asuras, was supposed to be ruling over this land. This was the golden age in the history of the country. In fact there's a popular folk song about it which tells that when Maveli ruled, all men were equal ( doesn't mention the women), they were leading a life of happiness and nobody had any calamity. There was neither dishonesty nor deception, nor any use of counterfeit measures or other kinds of unfair practice. In other words, nothing dodgy in those days.
This golden age came to a tragic close when Mahabali was expelled from his Kingdom by Vamana, the dwarf incarnation of Vishnu. So by the designs of the jealous gods, the glorious reign of the Asura emperor came to an end. But his grateful subjects had one request - that their former ruler might be permitted to visit the land once a year. The time for his annual visit was in the first Malayalam month Chingom (August-September) and this occasion became one of jubilation throughout the land, reminiscent of the prosperous times of Mahabali. True or false, the August celebration of Onam has been a grand national harvest festival for several centuries in which all sections of the people participate on a grand scale.
The festival is supposed to begin from the lunar asterism Atham which falls ten days before the asterism Thiruvonam, the most important day of the festival. In the front yard of the house Athapoovu (a floral decoration) is made for ten days from Atham to Thiruvonam and the idol of Thrikkakkara Appan made of clay is placed in the centre. It's well worth a rickshaw ride to see these beautiful decorations day after day.
On the Thiruvonam day every one bathes and offers worship in temples early in the morning. Then the brightest new garments are put on, a bit like we would put on our best bib and tucker for Christmas Day in the west. Presents are exchanged And then the elaborate - and it truly is elaborate -the onam feast of countless Kerala dishes served on plantain leaves begins. Wonderful! No washing up afterwards. Just chuck the banana leaves out to nature.
After the feast there will be sports and games, both indoor and outdoor, in which both men and women of all ages participate. Mack fight, ball games, card and chess play are the favorites of the men folk whereas women find pleasure in oonjalattom, thumbithullal, Thiruvathirakali, Kaikottikali and talking.
Boat races (regatta) also form another item of onam festival which attract thousands of people including tourists from outside the state., particularly to the famous Snake boat race at Alleppey.
The Thiruvathira festival falls on the asterism Thiruvathira in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December-January). The origin of the festival is shrouded in obscurity. The people celebrate this festival with age-old tradition and they do it with great joy and respect for the past. The Ardra Darshan celebrated in Tamil Nadu corresponds to Thiruvathira of Kerala. It is considered to be high auspicious to worship Siva and the devotees go to the temple before sunrise for 'darshan'. Apart from the worship in the Siva temple, there is very little celebration in the houses. Tradition has it that Thiruvathira festival is celebrated in commemoration of the death of Kamadeva, the mythological God of love. According to another version Thiruvathira is the birth day of Lord Siva.
Even though the Thiruvathira is celebrated by most of the Hindu communities it is essentially an event for Nair women. They get up at about 4 am and take a bath on seven days commencing from the asterism Aswathi. While taking a bath they sing certain songs mostly relating to the God of Love, accompanied by rhythmic sound produced by splashing water with their fists. In conclusion they stand in a circle in the water hand in hand singing songs. Thiruvathira is a day of fasting and the women discard the ordinary rice meal on that day, but only take preparations of chama (panicum milicceum) or wheat. Other items of their food include plantain fruits, tender coconuts, etc. They also chew betel and redden their lips. Among Namboodiris, Ambalavasis (temple-servants) and high class Nairs, there is a convention that each woman should chew 108 betels on that day. The first Thiruvathira coming after the marriage of a girl is known as Puthen Thiruvathira or Poothiruvathira and it is celebrated on a grand scale.