Onam is among the most prominent festivals of the Indian state - Kerala. It is a harvest festival and as the legend says it is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.

Onam is celebrated every year in the beginning of the month of Chingam, the first month as per the Malayalam Calendar. This normally falls in the month of August-September as per the Gregorian Calendar. Not just in India, Onam is celebrated by Malayalees all over the world with the same exuberance. The diaspora also hosts elaborate celebrations in other countries such as the UAE and the USA.

Onam Carnival is celebrated for ten days, with the first and tenth day being the most important of all. Major highlights of the celebrations include the grand feast called Onasadya. The Onam sadya (feast) served during Onam contains seasonal vegetables such as yam, cucumber, and gourd, banana chips, fried banana coated with jaggery, sambar, pickles and payasam. It is a nine course meal consisting of 11 to 13 essential dishes and is served on banana leaves.

Another enchanting feature of Onam is Vallamkali, the Snake Boat Race, held on the river Pampa. It is a colourful sight to watch the decorated boat oared by hundreds of boatmen amidst chanting of songs and cheering by spectators.

In 2017, Thiru Onam is on September 4. Festivities actually commence 10 days before Thiru Onam, on Atham, which is on August 25 and ends on Chatayam i.e. September 6, 2017.