Significance
Onam is the harvest festival and cultural pride of Kerala, celebrating the annual homecoming of the benevolent asura king Mahabali, whose reign is remembered as a golden age of equality and plenty.
It transcends religion and is celebrated by all Malayalis with unmatched fervour.
Rituals
The ten-day festival features the flower carpet (Pookalam), the grand vegetarian feast Onasadya served on banana leaves, Vallamkali snake-boat races, Pulikali tiger dances, Kaikottikali and the reception of Mahabali on the main day, Thiruvonam.
How the date is fixed
Onam's main day, Thiruvonam, is fixed by the Shravana (Thiruvonam) nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Chingam, when the Sun is in Leo.