Festivals in India are the oldest rituals and traditions that people follow to honour the Almighty. They are essentially symbols of peace and happiness. As everyone knows, India is a diverse country with a wide range of religions and cultures coexisting in one country. Seasonal festivals, in particular, are extremely diverse in our country. Some seasonal festivals in India include Bihu in Assam, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Baisakhi in Punjab, and others. Onam is a seasonal festival in India. Onam is a harvest festival celebrated solely by Malayali in Kerala.
It is Kerala's official festival and includes a variety of cultural events. It is primarily observed to commemorate the return of the Great King Mahabali. Onam, like Diwali, is known as the festival of joy and happiness; it is a celebration of equality, justice, prosperity, fairness, and unity. The festival is usually held during the Malayali month of Chingam (August to September), which is followed by the first month of the Malayalam calendar, Kollavarsham. Onam brings together all of Kerala's colours, history, culture, and beliefs. The festival also has an interesting history, which will be covered later in the article.