Keralites are celebrating the Malayalam New Year (Chingam 1) on Monday, 17 August, with festivities and traditional observances.
The auspicious first day in Malayalam calendar is welcomed by special prayers and ceremonies. Chingam is also of great significance as Onam, the biggest fesitval in Kerala, is celebrated in this month. Other festivals like Sri Krishna Jayanti and Ganesh Chaturthi also feature during this time.
The 10-day-long harvest festival, Onam, which begins from Atham (19 August), will be celebated on 28 August.
The Onam festival marks the commemoration of Vishnu's Vamana avatar. It is believed that during this time every year, the mythical King Mahabali visits his people in Kerala, his former kingdom, emerging from the netherworld.
Onam is also known all over the world for its special customs and rituals, including Pookkalam (flower carpet), Vallam Kali (boat race) Pulikali, Onathappan, Thumbi Thullal, Onavillu, Kazhchakkula, Onapottan and Atthachamayam.
Chingam 1 is considered as an auspicious day and celebrities have been wishing their fans on social media.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is currently in the UAE, also extended his greetings to Keralites all over the world on Malayalam New Year.
Check out celebrity wishes on Chingam 1 below:
Greetings to Malayali community at the start of Chingam, the 1st month of Malayalam New Year. May this year bring happiness & prosperity.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2015
Glad to mark this special day of Malayali community in UAE, where the community has a key presence & is admired for its industrious nature. — Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 17, 2015
എെശ്വര്യത്തിന്‍റെ ചിങ്ങപുലരിയെ വരവേല്‍ക്കുന്ന എല്ലാ മലയാളികള്‍ക്കും ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ പുതുവത്സരആശംസകൾ
Posted by Mohanlal on Sunday, 16 August 2015
ഇന്ന് ചിങ്ങം ഒന്ന്..എല്ലാ മലയാളികള്‍ക്കും ഐശ്വര്യവും സമൃദ്ധിയും നിറഞ്ഞ പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ..!
Posted by Jayaram on Sunday, 16 August 2015
Ellavarkum orupaadu santhoshavum, snehavum, aiswaryavum nerunnu :) #AaranmulaVallasadhya
Posted by Govind Padmasoorya on Sunday, 16 August 2015
ഈ പുതുവർഷം എല്ലാവർക്കും സർവഐശ്വര്യങ്ങളും നൽകട്ടെ എന്ന്ആശംസിക്കുന്നുഏവർക്കും ഹൃദയം നിറഞ്ഞ പുതുവത്സരആശംസകൾ....#chingam #kerala #malayali #india
Posted by Lakshmi Menon - Vlogger on Sunday, 16 August 2015
ഐശ്വര്യസമൃദ്ധമായ പുതുവർഷം നേരുന്നു :D
Posted by Shweta Mohan on Sunday, 16 August 2015
എന്റെ സുഹ്രുത്തുക്കൾക്കു ഐശ്വര്യവും സമൃദ്ധിയും സന്തൊഷവും നിറഞ്ഞ പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ
Posted by Jishnu Raghavan on Monday, 17 August 2015
ചിങ്ങം 1എല്ലാ സുഹൃത്തുക്കൾക്കും സമൃദ്ധിയുടേയും ഐശ്വര്യത്തിന്റേയും ഒരു പുതു വർഷം നേരുന്നു. <3
Posted by Kunchacko Boban on Sunday, 16 August 2015
പുതുവത്സരാശംസകൾ!PC: Premjith G#gvenugopal
Posted by G Venugopal on Sunday, 16 August 2015
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