Festivals of South India:

Festivals of Kerala:

 Onam:

• Onam (also known as Thiruvonam) is the state festival of Kerala, observed by all its citizens, irrespective of caste, creed or community. It is a harvest festival celebrated once a year during the Malayalam month of Chingom (August-September).
• Some of the celebrations include creating a Pookalam (an extravagant arrangement of colourful flowers), visiting temples, feasting on an elaborate meal served on plantain leaves, gifting others with new clothes, participating in boat races held on the backwaters, a variety of sporting events and even Pulikkali.

 
Vishu:  

• Vishu is an auspicious festival celebrated by Hindus on the first day of the Malayalum month of Medam (April-May). Vishu is hailed as the beginning of a new year by residents of Kerala. The most significant ritual observed during Vishu is the Kani Kanal (meaning ‘first sight’), as it is believed that the fortunes of the upcoming year depend on what object is seen first on the morning of Vishu.
• Another practice is Vishu Kaineettam, where money is gifted to the younger members of each family. The entire family joins in for a mid day feast (Sadya) and then ends the day’s celebration with a dazzling display of fireworks.

Festivals of Tamilnadu:

Deepavali:

• Deepavali also called Diwali means ‘a row of lights’ in Sanskrit and is celebrated by Hindus all over India as the festival of lights. In Kerala, Deepavali is observed on the day before the new moon in the Malayalam month of Thulam (October-November).
• Deepavali is a celebration of God Sree Krishna’s triumph over the demon Narakasura. The Tamil communities in Kerala begin their celebrations early in the morning with a ritual oil bath before sunrise. This is immediately followed by consuming a concoction of jaggery and dry ginger.
• The celebrations include wearing festive garments, distributing special sweets, bursting firecrackers and a watching the colorful fireworks lighting up the sky. Homes are lit up with clay oil lamps and the sparkling lights dazzle every neighborhood during Deepavali.

Pongal:

This is the most important Harvest festival celebrated by the people of Tamil Nadu. It lasts for a period of 4 days and is normally celebrated on the 13th of January till the 16th. This festival is actually mainly celebrated to thank or show appreciation to the Sun God for giving energy towards agriculture. The people boil the first rice of the season as a tribute to the Sun God. Pongal is also the name of a dish that is very famous in the South and is cooked for most of the festivals there.One month before the festival the females of the houses make patterns at the entrance of the houses known as Kolam with rice and colored powder. This month is called Margali and houses are whitewashed and kept ready for Pongal.

1.  The first day is known as Bhogi and is mainly to honour Lord Indra who provides the farmers with rain. Also on this day, people get rid of something old and get something new as a sign of a new beginning. At dawn all that was gotten rid of is burnt in the bonfire.
2.  The houses are all decorated for the forthcoming day, the horns of the buffaloes are painted. Sugar cane is an important crop on this day at least that’s what I remember because I used to be so excited each year in the hostel for the sugarcanes that our friends would bring for us.
3.  The main Pongal falls on the second day and is called Thai Pongal (Thai is the 10th month in the Tamil Calendar). All the people wear the traditional clothes, also on this day, the husband and the wife throw away some vessels that were used for the Puja. The offering also includes sugar cane and coconut.
4.  Mattu Pongal, the third day of the festival is mainly for the cows. Many beads, bells, flowers are tied onto the cow and most importantly a garland. They are fed Pongal and other dishes and are worshipped. They are also taken around the village so all the people can join in on this auspicious day.
5.  The last day is called Kannum Pongal day. On this day Women put a turmeric leaf and fill it with various leftover and rice and pray for their households prosperity. It is also the day where families visit each other and many gifts are exchanged as a perfect end to a perfect festival.