Onam 

(Malayalam: ഓണം, romanized: Ōṇaṁ, IPA: [oːɳɐm]) is an annual Malayali harvest festival

celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala.[4][5] A major annual event for Keralites, it is the official festival
of the state[4][6] and includes a spectrum of cultural events.[7][8] Drawing from Hindu legends,[4][9] Onam
commemorates King Mahabali and Vamana.[10][11]
Within the textual tradition (primarily Mahabharata), Mahabali is noted to be an Asura, who found
liberation at the feet of Vishnu through charity and religious rectitude.[11] However, there are other
interpretations of the same myth-cycle.[11] In the state-sanctioned celebrations, Mahabali is portrayed
as a cultural hero: a just and benevolent ruler, he chose to even give up his rule/life for protecting his
subjects, and was allowed by Vamana to return once a year.[11]
The festival probably has ancient origins and it became intricately linked with Hindu legends at some
later date.[10][12] The earliest known reference is found in Maturaikkāñci – a Sangam poem – which
mentions Onam being celebrated in Madurai temples.[12] Since then, multiple temple inscriptions
record celebrations of Onam.[12] The date is based on the Panchangam which falls on the
22nd nakshatra Thiruvonam in the month Chingam of Malayalam calendar, which in Gregorian
calendar falls between August–