Onam 2017: 5 rangoli designs to adorn your homes on harvest festival

- The most prominent event and notable ritual of Onam is the making of the pookalam designs.

Onam, the festival of harvest, ios celebrated every year with origins in the state of Kerala. This festival is celebrated in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingam. It marks the summer harvest and is celebrated with numerous festivities. It includes Vallam Kali (boat races), Pulikali (tiger dances), Pookkalam (flower arrangement), Onathappan (worship), Onam Kali, Tug of War, Thumbi Thullal (women's dance), Kummati kali (mask dance), Onathallu (martial arts), Onavillu (music), Kazhchakkula (plantain offerings), Onapottan (costumes), Atthachamayam (folk songs and dance), and other celebrations. It is the New Year day for Malayali Hindus. Here are five rangoli designs to adorn your homes on harvest festival

- Pookalams are laid out at the doorstep as a sign of welcome to King Mahabali.

- These designs are one of the major attractions in onam harvest festival where huge amounts of flowers are used.

- Most commonly used flowers are Mukkutti, Kakka Poovu, Mukkutti, Aripoo, Thumba, Thechipoovu, Hanuman Kireedom, and Chethi.

- It is believed that the ‘Thumba Poo‘ is Lord Shiva’s favorite flower and King Mahabali was a big worshipper of Lord Shiva.