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Onam is often celebrated through its grandest highlight \u2014 the Onam Sadya<\/em>, a lavish vegetarian feast served on banana leaves and enjoyed with family and friends.\u00a0<\/p>\n But beyond the kitchens where the Sadya<\/em> takes centre stage lies an equally vibrant world of rituals, performances, and traditions. From Pulikali\u2019s <\/em>tiger dance and Kummatti Kali\u2019s<\/em> colourful masks to the rhythm of folk songs and the grandeur of Vallamkali <\/em>boat races, these customs together weave the cultural tapestry of Kerala\u2019s beloved festival.<\/p>\n Let\u2019s explore the lesser-known, yet mesmerising rituals that encapsulate the spirit of Onam.<\/p>\n One of the most striking traditions of Onam is Pulikali<\/em><\/strong>, or the Tiger Dance. Tracing its roots back nearly 200 years, this folk art sees performers painting their bodies in vivid colours to resemble tigers.<\/p>\n Guided by the beat of drums, these \u2018tigers\u2019 prowl the streets, captivating onlookers with fierce expressions and energetic movements.<\/p>\n More than just a spectacle, Pulikali <\/em>is a living expression of Kerala\u2019s artistic heritage. The tiger motif symbolises bravery, vigour, and fertility \u2014 qualities deeply embedded in cultural memory and celebrated through this vibrant performance.<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n In Pulikali<\/em>, performers painting their bodies in vivid colours to resemble tigers.<\/p>\n A stark contrast to the fierce energy of Pulikali<\/em>, Kummatti Kali<\/em><\/strong> brings a more whimsical side to Onam. Celebrated mainly in central Kerala, this lively mask dance features performers in intricately carved wooden masks and colourful grass skirts.<\/p>\n Here, mythological characters spring to life, delighting both children and adults with their playful presence. Moving from house to house, the dancers narrate stories through expressive gestures and rhythmic steps, often accompanied by folk songs.<\/p>\n Beyond its entertainment, Kummatti Kali<\/em> helps preserve Kerala\u2019s oral traditions, keeping alive the tales and artistry passed down through generations.<\/p>\n Kummatti Kali <\/em>adds whimsy to Onam, with dancers wearing wooden masks and colourful grass skirts.<\/p>\n During Onam, the air is filled with the melodies of centuries-old folk songs. Known as Onappaattu<\/em>, these songs are both celebratory and nostalgic, offering a lyrical glimpse into Kerala\u2019s agrarian way of life.\u00a0<\/p>\n Traditionally sung by women, they evoke themes of bountiful harvests, the joy of togetherness, and reflections on community and tradition.<\/p>\n Onappaattu <\/em>often accompanies the making of Pookalams <\/em>\u2014 the intricate flower carpets that adorn homes and symbolise harmony. As much as Onam is celebrated through rituals and feasts, it truly comes alive in the symphony of voices that echo across villages and towns.<\/p>\n \nAdvertisement<\/span>\n<\/p>\n A spectacle of speed, synchrony, and spirit, the snake boat races \u2014 or Vallamkali<\/strong> <\/em>\u2014 are among the most iconic traditions of Onam.\u00a0<\/p>\n Held on Kerala\u2019s serene backwaters, the races feature long, graceful boats adorned with silk umbrellas, their oarsmen rowing in rhythm to the stirring Vanchipattu<\/strong> <\/em>boat songs.<\/p>\n More than a contest of strength, Vallamkali <\/em>is a tribute to teamwork and camaraderie, with each oarsman moving in perfect harmony. On the banks, the energy is electric as crowds cheer on their favourites, their enthusiasm heightening the festive spirit.<\/p>\n While the Sadya <\/em>remains a cherished highlight, it is these living traditions that invite us to look deeper, celebrate broadly, and immerse ourselves in the true essence of Onam.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Onam is often celebrated through its grandest highlight \u2014 the Onam Sadya, a lavish vegetarian feast served on banana leaves and enjoyed with family and friends.\u00a0 But beyond the kitchens where the Sadya takes centre stage lies an equally vibrant world of rituals, performances, and traditions. From Pulikali\u2019s tiger dance and Kummatti Kali\u2019s colourful masks […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":28736,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[10662],"tags":[246,18070,4545,18077,18071,18072,18073,18074,18075,9219,8231,18076,10448],"class_list":["post-28735","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-indian-food-news","tag-boat","tag-boat-race","tag-dance","tag-exploring","tag-kummatti-kali","tag-onam","tag-onam-culture","tag-onappaattu","tag-pulikali","tag-races","tag-tiger","tag-tiger-dance","tag-traditions"],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",0,0,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",0,0,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",0,0,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",150,150,false],"medium":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",300,300,false],"large":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",1024,1024,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",1536,1536,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",2048,2048,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",370,265,false],"kava-thumb-s":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",150,85,false],"kava-thumb-s-2":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",230,230,false],"kava-thumb-m":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",400,400,false],"kava-thumb-m-vertical":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",370,500,false],"kava-thumb-m-2":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",570,450,false],"kava-thumb-l":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",1170,650,false],"kava-thumb-xl":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",1920,1080,false],"kava-thumb-masonry":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",600,999,false],"kava-thumb-justify":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",640,640,false],"kava-thumb-justify-2":["https:\/\/en-media.thebetterindia.com\/uploads\/2025\/09\/onam-1757050299.jpg",1280,640,false]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"#RiseCelestialStudios","author_link":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/author\/ralph-c\/"},"rttpg_comment":0,"rttpg_category":"INDIAN FOOD NEWS<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Onam is often celebrated through its grandest highlight \u2014 the Onam Sadya, a lavish vegetarian feast served on banana leaves and enjoyed with family and friends.\u00a0 But beyond the kitchens where the Sadya takes centre stage lies an equally vibrant world of rituals, performances, and traditions. From Pulikali\u2019s tiger dance and Kummatti Kali\u2019s colourful masks…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28735","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28735"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28735\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28737,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28735\/revisions\/28737"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28736"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28735"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28735"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/design-providers.com\/rise\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28735"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Pulikali: <\/em>The dance of the tigers<\/h2>\n
Kummatti Kali: <\/em>The dance of masks<\/h2>\n
Folk songs: Onappaattu<\/em><\/h2>\n
Vallamkali:<\/em> The magnificent boat races<\/h2>\n