Venue: Celebrated all over Kerala

The festival of Onam is celebrated throughout the state of Kerala. This festival has a mythological backdrop as well as traditional agrarian practices. As per mythology, Kerala was once ruled by a generous and virtuous ruler - King Mahabali or Maveli. It was a period of all round prosperity, which became a reason to arouse the envy of the devas (gods in Heaven) and also due to the fact that King Mahabali was an asura; a member of the demon clan, who are bitter enemies of the devas. And in the actions that followed, King Mahabali was sent to the nether world by Vamana - an incarnation of Lord Vishnu; one of the triumvirates. Before sending to the nether world, Lord Vishnu granted Mahabali the permission to visit his subjects once in a year. This occasion is celebrated by all Keralites as Onam.

And the agrarian backdrop of Onam is attributed to that time of the year (the Malayalam month of Chingam), when farmers of Kerala enjoy a good harvest, resulting in granaries full of rice grain and happiness all around.

Onam celebrations are held for ten days, beginning with the atham asterism in the Malayalam month of Chingam - corresponding to the months of August / September. In Kerala, the Onam festival days are marked by specially put up fair grounds, markets, games and competitions organised by clubs and youth organisations, elephant processions, cultural programs, boat races and other entertainment events enjoyed by all age groups.