CSS Group offices in India and the Middle East celebrated Onam festival in a grand way. In all offices, the traditional flower carpet was arranged as part of the celebration and the competition, which is held every year for the prestigious Mahabali Crystal Award. Staff was wearing the traditional Kerala costumes on this day. An integral part of the occasion, the Onasadya (Traditional feast in a plantain leaf with 31 dishes) was served for the staff in a grand manner.
Onam is the biggest and the most important festival celebrated by the Malayali community within and outside the state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrated with joy and enthusiasm all over the world where there are Keralites living.
According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam. Onam is celebrated at the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month of Malayalam Calendar (Kollavarsham). This corresponds with the month of August-September according to the Gregorian calendar.
Carnival of Onam lasts from four to ten days. The first day, Atham and tenth day, Thiruonam are most important of all. Popularity and presentation of the rich culture of the state during the carnival made Onam the National Festival of Kerala in 1961. Elaborate feasts, folk songs, elegant dances, energetic games, elephants, boats and flowers all are a part of the dynamic festival called Onam.
