Third day of the ten day long carnival of Onam, is called Chothi or Chodi. This busy day is marked by lots of activities. There is frenzied shopping witnessed in the market place all over the state of Kerala. Everybody buys new clothes and accompanying accessories for the grand festival of Onam. Also, gifts are procured for everyone who lives in the house including the servants. In addition, people purchase gifts for close relatives. Thanks to the media so there is an increased hype for the Onam festival. The shopkeepers offer innovative incentives to lure customers who are in the mood to spend. These days, shops selling electronic goods offer attractive discounts. They also cash in on the bullish mood of the festivities.
There are no set rituals on Chothi. However, specific flowers are added to Pookalam on this day. It should be noted that on each day different types of flowers are added to Pooksalam. The significance of each specific flower is that each is devoted to a particular deity. Thus, Pookalam not only increases in diameter but also it gets a refreshing new design.
Ten days of Onam:
Atham | Chithira | Chodhi | Visakam | Anizham | Thriketa | Moolam | Pooradam | Uthradam | Thiruvonam
