Climate
in Kerala, India
Rainy season and onam festival associated with it
Onam is the National Festival of Kerala with State holidays on 4 days starting from Onam Eve. Its also one of the most secular festival. Onam Festival falls during the Malayalam month of Chingam (Aug - Sep) and marks the homecoming of mythical King Mahabali who Malayalees consider as their King. Onam festivities last for ten days and brings out the best of Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam (floral carpets), the mammoth Onasadya (the festival feast), breathtaking Snake boat race and the exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam
Summer season and festival Thrissur pooram associated with it
The most famous temple festival, that one should not miss is Thrissur Pooram at city of Thrissur happening between last week of April- mid of May. Its actually a competition of festivities between two temples and nearly parades of 30 to 50 decorated elephants along with huge temple orchestration normally associated by 150 to 200 musicians happen, making it a visual treat. The fireworks display is also a competition between two temples and goes on for more than 4 to 5 hours
Pictures of Onam and Pooram Celebrations
Ona Sadya
Sadhya is traditionally a Vegetarian meal served on a banana leaf. People are seated cross-legged on the floor on a mat. All the dishes are served on the leaf and eaten with the right hand without using any cutlery. The fingers are cupped to form a ladle. A Sadhya can have about 24-28 dishes served as a single course.
Kaikottikali during onam
Kaikottikali or Thiruvathirakali is an extremely popular folk dance performed by the maidens of Kerala. It is a group dance and is mainly performed on the occasion of Onam. Women, both young and old submerge themselves in the spirit of the occasion and dance with perfect ease.
Thrissur pooram
Comparing with northern regions in India
Culture in Punjab, Jammu and Haryana
Baisakhi is the New Year day, falling in Mid April, of the Punjabis. They sing, dance and make merry on this particular day. It is also a harvest festival, They gather and the men folk dance the famous Bhangra on the tune of huge drums and the women start the Giddha to accompany them. Preparing and eating goodies is also part of the celebrations. The Urs (or Ziarats) is a typical Kashmiri festival. It is held annually at the shrines of Muslim saints on their death anniversaries. Celebrated in different parts of Srinagar, not only Muslims but Hindus and Sikhs also take the blessings. A distinctive feature of Kashmiri food is the generous use of yoghurt in their gravies; the flavours of asafetida. aniseed, and dry ginger for pungency and saffron for the pulaos. Teejis an important festival in Haryana and is celebrated during the month of July - August, to welcome the month of Sawan, bringing rains. Mainly ladies and girls enjoy this festival more than the men folk. The dupattas in bright red or pink with beautiful motifs of golden thread are worn, swings are hung on trees to play with and henna is applied on palms.
Festivals of North
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