Onam Atham

Atham

First Day of the Onam,  Athachamyam, Start of the onam Festival, Atham

Onam is a Ten day Long festival. First day of the onam festival is known as Atham. Last day of this festival is known as Onam or Thiruonam. The prevailing nakshatra of this day is Hasta (Atham).

On Atham day People wake up early in the morning, have ritual bath and offer prayers in the Temple.   Everyone have the break fast of steamed bananas and papad for these ten days. Youngsters decorate the Swing with beautiful flowers and ply with it by singing Oonjal songs.

From the Atham day people start making the Pookalam. People start adding more designs and flowers to this pookalam. This is done to welcome the King Maha bali.

Athachamyam

A great procession named Athachamyam is carried out on Atham day. This Procession marks the beginning of the ten day onam festival. This consists of folk arts, dance, music and elephant processions.