During the days of the Onam Festival, the biggest and most spectacular festival of Kerala, the entire Indian state goes on a spree of celebrations, music and dance performances, elaborate banquets, flower carpets, rowing competitions, and many other happenings. Usually taking place during August – September, this ancient Hindu event is also called the Festival of Harvest when nature is in full bloom and festivities are in the air everywhere.  

The Onam Festival is the most significant harvest festival in Kerala, celebrating Nature’s reward after a whole year of hard work and attracting thousands of local and international tourists. For cultural buffs, this is the best time to travel through this Indian state and sample the diversity of its culture and its colourful traditions.

Enthusiasts of floral design will regale on the many pookkalams or flower carpets laid out at the entrances of houses and temples. The decorative pookkalams are one of the highlights of the Onam Festival and its most prominent ritual. The making of pookkalams begins on Atham, the first day of the festival, after which new rings of flower petals are added every day until Thiru Onam, the festival’s most important day. By then, the usually circular pookkalam has reached a size of four to five metres in diameter with an intricate design and exquisite colours. There are also contests for the most beautiful and impressive pookkalam during Onam all over Kerala.