Onam is an annual holiday and cultural festival celebrated in Kerala, India. According to legends, the festival is celebrated to commemorate King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
Onam celebrations are synonymous with the ‘Vallam Kali‘ (the boat races), ‘Pulikali‘ (the tiger dances), ‘Pookkalam‘ (the flower rangolis), ‘Onathappan‘ (the worship), ‘Onam Kali‘, ‘Thumbi Thullal‘ (women’s dances), ‘Kummattikali‘ (mask dances), ‘Onathallu‘ (martial arts), ‘Onavillu‘ (music), ‘Kazhchakkula‘ (plantain offerings), ‘Onapottan‘ (costumes), and ‘Atthachamayam‘ (folk songs and dances), among others.
