Kerala Village’s Onam Carols Bring Mahabali to Every Home

Valayanchirangara is a village in Kerala with a special way of celebrating Onam.

For eight evenings, people walk from house to house singing Onam songs.

Drummers join them and make the celebration lively.

One person dresses as King Mahabali, an important figure in the Onam story.

Mahabali blesses children when the group visits each home.

Families give the singers snacks, sweets and other contributions.

The procession starts on Atham, the first day of the traditional Onam celebrations.

Women and people from nearby villages now take part too.

The tradition began in 1985 and has continued despite pauses during the 2018 floods and the COVID-19 pandemic.