Onam

Onam is the biggest and the most important festival of the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is celebrated in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to Gregorian Calendar.

Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. First day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.

Government of India has taken due notice of this vibrant and colorful festival. It promotes Onam internationally in a big way and celebrates 'Tourist Week' for Kerala during Onam celebrations. Thousands of domestic and foreign tourists visit Kerala to be a part of Onam.

Rich cultural heritage of Kerala comes out in its best form and spirit during the ten day long festival. It is indeed a treat to be a part of the grand carnival. People of Kerala make elaborate preparations to celebrate it in the best possible manner.

The most impressive part of Onam celebration is the grand feast called Onasadya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.

Baishakhi

What a great Mela, the atmosphere was excellent, I love Bangla New Year now , for sure and what a perfect time to party.

The music was jumping, punctuated by low flying MTV style cameras, the coverage was a success, the audience Baishakhi Mela
going mental, the musicians gave it back with excellent performances.

If a Mela is gauged by how well people enjoy themselves then Baishakhi Mela is really not to be missed, there is a real feeling of community and independence, which is fair enough, although, there is also a feeling of being in someone else's house, more so than other Melas.

There is no true cross-over, no sense of inclusion with rest of the whole community of East London, no multi-cultural element that makes a good Mela a great one.

Channel S put up a good show, the TV coverage was decent with a large viewing screen so no one missed any of the action on stage.

The presenter was constantly swamped with people trying to get their faces on the screen, but he seemed to handle the crush with some humour (at least when the cameras were on ) some of the crowd were generous enough to form a circle around him and the show went on.

A few other TV companies also showed up, but it was a token
representation and they didn't have the same enthusiasm as Channel S..

Rakhi

India is a country of festivals. It is culturally so rich that it celebrates a festival almost every month. The people of India are so lively that they find a reason or the other for celebrations. One of such reasons is the sweet and sour relationship between a brother and a sister. Though brothers and sisters share and enjoy the bond of love between them throughout the year but Rakhi is the day when they get an opportunity to express their tender love and feelings towards each other. The Rakhi day is an opportunity for them to commemorate their loving memories, loyalty, closeness, trust and friendship that is lasting and true.

Raksha Bandhan is celebrated every year on 'Shravan Purnima' (Full Moon Day of the Hindu month of Shravan), which generally falls in the month of August. On the holy day of Rakhi the sisters tie a sacred piece of thread (Known as Rakhi or 'Raksha-Sutra') on the wrist of their brothers. Then they sweeten each others mouths with delicious and mouth-watering sweets. The festival of Rakhi also includes a tradition of offering gifts to sisters by the brothers.