Onam Sadhya

Onasadhya or onamsadya (The Meals) is the most favorite and delicious part of the Onam festival. It is considered the most elaborate and grand meal prepared for any festival in the world. It is served in Banana leafs. There is a way of placing the leaf and an order of serving the dishes. The picture given shows the serving order beginning from the left with 'Upperies' Rice is the main course. With rice, various kinds of dishes are served... curries, 'upperies' (things fried in oil), 'pappadams' (round crisp flour paste cakes of peculiar make), 'achchars' (pickles of various kinds), 'payasams' and 'prathamans' (Desserts). Fruits are also served, mainly plantain.Erissery

Onakkalikal

Talappanthukali Onakkali The most popular outdoor game is Pantukali in which the ball is prepared by tying a few pebbles in the layers of dried-up plantain leaves with the help of a plantain or coconut fiber.
Kayyankali Onakkali-In this game participants fight to each other and is dangerous game.

Attakalam Onakkali-Attakalam is also a game of physical strength.

Ambeyyal Onakkali -Ambeyyal is actually the game of ‘archery’.

Kutukutu Onakkali – It is a type of kabadi


Onam Celebrations

Making of a Pookalam Athapoovu is circular shaped and multi-tiered colourful arrangements of flowers, petals and leaves normally laid on the front court yard of the house. Making pookalam is starts on ‘Atham’ which is the first day of the ten day celebrations. It continues till ‘thiruvonam’ the last and important day.Commonly used flowers include Thumba (Lucas Aspera), Kakka Poovu, Thechipoovu, Mukkutti (little tree plant), Chemparathy (shoe flower), Aripoo or Konginipoo (Lantana), Hanuman Kireedom (Red pagoda plant) and Chethi (Ixora).

Tiruvonam
The tenth and the most important day of Onam celebrations is known as Thiru Onam or the Tiru Onam. People believe that s on this tenth day king Mahabali comes to visit his people.In the noon the grand feast of Onam called Onasadya is prepared. The strictly vegetarian meal consists of 11 - 13 mandatory dishes and is served on a banana leaf. The major celebrations get over on the tenth and the most important day Tiruvonam.

Sravanmahotsav
The festival of Onam is celebrated on the full moon day in the holy month of Shravan. So
Onam is termed as Sravanotsavam or Sravanmahotsav.

Onakkalikal
Talappanthukali- The most popular outdoor game is Pantukali in which the ball is prepared by tying a few pebbles in the layers of dried-up plantain leaves with the help of a plantain or coconut fiber.
Kayyankali-In this game participants fight to each other and is dangerous game Attakalam-Attakalam is also a game of physical strength. Ambeyyal-Ambeyyal is actually the game of ‘archery’. Kutukutu – It is a type of kabadi



Onappattukal-Onam Songs

During Onam, floral decorations (atthapookalam) are made in front of every home and the traditional Onam songs known as Onappattukal are sung, mainly by women, as a welcome gesture to King Mahabali. Some of them are "Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kaalam” The "Thumbi Thullal" songs "Onnam thumbiyum oru pattam makkalum koode