IMPORTANCE OF CHINGAM
The new year in malayalam calender for south indian state of kerala. Kollavarsham is the name of malayalam calender. Chingam is considered as the new begining for everything. Chingam happens to be the month of festivals, too. Close to eight festivals are observed during the mont. Onam, the most festival of Malayalis, is observed in the month. It is the day of the visit of King Mahabali to Kerala. The festival is celebrated as a tribute to the sacrifice of King Mahabali. Every year people make elaborate preparations to welcome their King whom they affectionately call Onathappan. They wish to please the spirit of their King by depicting that his people are happy and wish him well. The second day, Thiruvonam is the biggest and the most important day of this festival. It is believed that King Mahabali visits his people on the second day. Onam is basically a harvest festival, marking the wealth and abundance Malayalis. The 10-day Onam festival begins on the Atham Nakshathram in the Chingam month and the main festival is celebrated on the Thiruvonam Nakshathram day in the Chingam month.