Happy Onam Wishes in Malayalam: Onam 2017 WhatsApp GIF Images, Messages, Quotes & Greetings to Celebrate Kerala’s Harvest Festival

Malayalees around the world celebrate Onam with great zeal and enthusiasm.

Onam is a harvest festival of Kerala that is being celebrated by all Malayalees and is a 10-day long event. The main day of Onam celebrations is Thiruvonam which falls on September 4, 2017. Onam is celebrated in the month of Chingam according to the Malayalam Calendar and people enjoy sending Happy Onam wishes and messages to their friends and family to brighten their day. Happy Onam wishes in Malayalam as well as English are forwarded on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms along with pictures of the delicious Onam feast which is called the Onam Sadhya.

Onam Celebrations include a feast served on banana leaves, Pookkalam (flower arrangement), folk dance like Pulikali (tiger dances), tug of war, Vallam Kali (boat races), and traditional dance form Kaikottikali include some of the major celebrations during Onam in Kerala. Onam falls in the month of Chingam according to the Malayalam New Year. Onam marks the beginning of the new year for Malayalee Hindus.

Malayalees around the world celebrate Onam with great zeal and enthusiasm. While it is majorly believed to be a Hindu festival, people from following religions in the state also celebrate the festival. Kerala Tourism witnesses a great boost during the Onam festival with foreigners flocking the state to be a part of the celebrations. While it is a harvest festival, Keralites celebrate the festival to welcome the great King Mahabali. According to mythology, King Mahabali who once ruled the state visits his subjects on Thiruvonam every year. Hence, Malayalees decorate their houses, wear their best clothes and prepare a grand feast for his welcome.

According to mythological stories, during the reign of King Mahabali everything was in bountiful. Mahabali being a just king never divided his people on the basis of religion, caste or creed. During the era there was no theft, cheating or jealousy. However the good times did not last long as the Gods became jealous of such a generous and powerful King. Fearing the King Mahabali’s powers they approached Lord Vishnu for help. The Gods belived that Mahabali would cpature the heavens too. Lord Vishnu, hence visited Mahabali disguised Vamana, a poor Brahmin. Mahabali being generous asked  Vamana to ask for anything he wished to which he asked for three-feet land.

Mahabali agreed and soon after which Vamana grew in size and placed his first feet on the earth. With second he claimed the heaves and with no land left, Mahabli offered his head for Vishnu to keep his third feet. Mahabali was then pushed to the netherworld by Lord Vishnu. However, he was granted a wish where he could visit his subjects every year on Thiruvonam.

While Kerala is decked to celebrate Onam in all its glory, here are messages you can send your friends, family, and relatives on an auspicious day.

WhatsApp Reads: Kalaminiyumurulum Vishu, Varumvarsham Varum,  Thiruvonam Varumpinneyoro, Thalirilum Poo Varum Kai Varum, Appozharennumenthennum Aarkariyam, So Enjoy This Onam.

WhatsApp Reads: Ormayille Aa Kaalam? Pookkalam Undaakkan Oodi Nadannathum, Poovu Poranju Karanjathum, Appurathe Veettile Pookkal Parichathum, Oru Valiya Pookkalam Undakkiyathum, Innum Orkkan Enthu Sukham Alle, I Wish You A Happy Onam.

WhatsApp Reads: Onam ethra rasamaanalle? Ellavarum Othu koodunna, Ellavarum Kaathirikkunna, Ellavarum Ormikkunna, Oru Onam koodi Varavaayi, Ethunnathum kaathirikkunnu. Happy Onam.

WhatsApp Reads: Ethu dhoosara sankalpangalil, valarnalum Ethu yanthra valkritha, lokathil pularnalumManassilundavatte, gramathin velichavumManavum, Mamathayum ithiri thumpappoovum.

WhatsApp Reads: Nilavilakinte Parishudhiyum, Tumbapoovinte Nairmalyavumai, Varunna Ponnin Chinga Masathile, Ponnonatte Varavelkan, Niranja Snehathode Ende ONAM Ashamsagal.

This year, Kerala Tourism Department has arranged special packages and programmes under its ‘Responsible Tourism’ (RT) initiative for Onam. The initiative titled ‘Nattinpurangalil Onam Unnam, Onasammanangal Vangam’ (Let’s have Onam feast in villages and get Onam gifts) aims at introducing the festivities to foreign and domestic tourists. Under the package, interested families can welcome tourists to their homes and treat them to an Onam feast. The new initiative falls under ‘Responsible Tourism’ project and government has already set aside Rs 4.5 crore for the initial phase of the project.