Onam
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Kerala's harvest festival welcoming the beloved King Mahabali, with flower carpets, feasts and boat races.
Where: KeralaWhen: Chingam month (August–September), 10 days from Atham to Thiruvonam
How it is performed
- Each day a larger pookalam (flower carpet) is laid in front of the home.
- On Thiruvonam, families eat the Onam sadya: over 20 dishes served on a banana leaf.
- Vallam kali (snake-boat races), pulikali (tiger dance) and thiruvathira kali (women's dance) bring the community together.
Significance
Onam celebrates the annual return of the generous King Mahabali, whose reign was remembered for equality and plenty, and Bhagwan Vishnu's Vamana avatar. Every community in Kerala celebrates it.