Kerala celebrates Onam on the Thiruvonam asterism in the
month of Malayalam month Chingom (zodiac sign Leo). As per mythology it
commemorates the rule by the Asura King Mahabali. One of the rituals observed during
Onam festival is preparing Flower mats on the courtyard of every household to
welcome Mahabali. So it is a festival of flowers too.
In the early years, the flowers used for this purpose was
collected by children from their locality. But since many years, its become a
trade and buy it from the market.
For this season of Onam, New PFA Arts & Sports Club
based at Perumannur, near Koottanad in Palakkad district, is cultivating the
flowers for Onam celebration and selling it in their locality. The club aims to
do some charity to the needy with the profit they collected from the flower
farming.
New PFA Arts & Sports Club functions since many years,
is mainly a football club and about 40 members are now volunteering in the
farming. The land for cultivation is provided by the authorities of Kottekkavu
temple. The flower they cultivate is locally called Chendumalli, a commonly
used flower with two verities, orange and yellow. They planted about 1000
saplings some 60 days before, during the start of the monsoon and doing the
irrigation whenever needed. This year Onam is on 04 Sept 2017 and the flower
mats prepare for ten days starting from 25 Aug 2017.
Location/access: The farm is at Perumannur Kottekkavu
Temple land, Perumannur, Near Koottanad (3km) in Palakkad district. Also
accessible from Perumpilavu (8km) in Thrissur district.
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