Temples to visit in Kerala during Onam

Kochi, Sep 01: Onam is an annual harvest festival in Kerala which is a major event for Malayalis. It is also the official festival of the state.

The festival fosters a spirit of oneness and narrows the communal chasm. More than offering prayers to a particular deity, a common feature of most Indian festivals, Onam is about celebrating the Malayali culture. Despite being a Hindu festival, people from all the communities of Kerala celebrate Onam with enthusiasm.

People celebrate the occasion by decorating their houses with pookalams - a decoration of flowers; wear new clothes, organise cultural programmes, take part in get-togethers.

During the 10-day festival, temples will have special pujas and cultural activities which is one of the major attractions in the state.

Visit These Temples During Onam

Thirkkakara Temple
The Thirkkakara temple is a must-visit place during Onam in Kerala. It is a temple dedicated to Lord Vamana, one of the incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Especially on the first and the last day of the festival, it exudes a spiritual aura which one might not have been experienced before. Various dance, music and cultural events are held in the temple which are some of the major attractions.

Guruvayur Temple
Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple, located in Guruvayur in Thrissur district, is a popular Lord Krishna temple in Kerala that will be visited by thousands of people during Onam. An important ritual associated with the festival is people presenting bunches of bananas. It is called as "kazhchakula samarpanam".

Sree Padmanabhaswami temple
In Sree Padmanabhaswami temple in Kerala, Thiruvonam is celebrated as the Lord's birthday. Onavillu charthal or the dedication ceremony of the colourful bows is a major attraction during the Onam festival.

This temple is located in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of Kerala.

Aranmula Temple
Aranmula Parthasarathy temple, which is a Hindu temple located near Aranmula, a village in Pathanamthitta District, is famous for Vallasadya, which has 40+ delicious dishes. Also, the snake boat race is a major attraction during Onam.