<p>Kerala celebrated Thiruvonam on Sunday with trademark fervour with the festival rush most evident in temples and cultural events organised by the government in different parts of the state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Despite Thiruvonam — the biggest day in the 10-day festival season — falling on a Sunday, the state has been on an extended holiday mode with the shopping rush peaking on Saturday.<br /><br />The festival was celebrated with traditional pookkalams (floral designs, an Onam staple) and the multi-dish sadya (the festival feast) across the state. Roads sported a deserted look in major cities till noon with many families choosing to stay glued to the television as channels beamed a variety of Onam-related shows and recent blockbuster movies through the day.<br /><br />Temples in Thiruvananthapuram had hundreds of devotees coming in during the early hours on Sunday. “It’s a busy day; there’s a big family feast to be served and there are friends joining in as well. But the temple visit is something that I start the day with, every Onam,” Ashalata, an employee at a private travel agency here, said. <br /><br />Major temples in the state including the Sree Krishna temples in Guruvayur and Aranmula had thousands of devotees teeming in through the day. <br /><br />The harvest festival was celebrated with many families hosting friends and relatives for lunch. People also queued up for the packed sadya at hotels in the cities. Stephen, a hotel manager in Thiruvananthapuram, said the business was brisk like in previous years. <br /><br />With most of the hotels downing shutters on Sunday, the sadya offer at select hotels also came in as respite for people with last-lap travel plans. Jitin Mohan, a Kollam-based businessman, said he had to go for a hotel sadya because of an unplanned trip to the capital city. For the thousands of migrant workers from other states, this was a festival season hard to let pass. <br /><br />“This is my third Onam here and for the first time, our group of migrant workers decided to cook our own version of the feast. A Malayali colleague chipped in with his inputs,” Bipul, a migrant labourer, said. Cultural events organised by the state tourism department as part of the festival hosted thousands on Sunday. The venues sported a carnival bustle, also attracting hordes of international tourists. <br /><br />Theatres screening at least five Onam releases featuring all the leading actors in Malayalam cinema also witnessed a huge rush for the evening shows. </p>
<p>Kerala celebrated Thiruvonam on Sunday with trademark fervour with the festival rush most evident in temples and cultural events organised by the government in different parts of the state. <br /><br /></p>.<p>Despite Thiruvonam — the biggest day in the 10-day festival season — falling on a Sunday, the state has been on an extended holiday mode with the shopping rush peaking on Saturday.<br /><br />The festival was celebrated with traditional pookkalams (floral designs, an Onam staple) and the multi-dish sadya (the festival feast) across the state. Roads sported a deserted look in major cities till noon with many families choosing to stay glued to the television as channels beamed a variety of Onam-related shows and recent blockbuster movies through the day.<br /><br />Temples in Thiruvananthapuram had hundreds of devotees coming in during the early hours on Sunday. “It’s a busy day; there’s a big family feast to be served and there are friends joining in as well. But the temple visit is something that I start the day with, every Onam,” Ashalata, an employee at a private travel agency here, said. <br /><br />Major temples in the state including the Sree Krishna temples in Guruvayur and Aranmula had thousands of devotees teeming in through the day. <br /><br />The harvest festival was celebrated with many families hosting friends and relatives for lunch. People also queued up for the packed sadya at hotels in the cities. Stephen, a hotel manager in Thiruvananthapuram, said the business was brisk like in previous years. <br /><br />With most of the hotels downing shutters on Sunday, the sadya offer at select hotels also came in as respite for people with last-lap travel plans. Jitin Mohan, a Kollam-based businessman, said he had to go for a hotel sadya because of an unplanned trip to the capital city. For the thousands of migrant workers from other states, this was a festival season hard to let pass. <br /><br />“This is my third Onam here and for the first time, our group of migrant workers decided to cook our own version of the feast. A Malayali colleague chipped in with his inputs,” Bipul, a migrant labourer, said. Cultural events organised by the state tourism department as part of the festival hosted thousands on Sunday. The venues sported a carnival bustle, also attracting hordes of international tourists. <br /><br />Theatres screening at least five Onam releases featuring all the leading actors in Malayalam cinema also witnessed a huge rush for the evening shows. </p>
