Today, 9 September 2011 is Onam or Thiruvonam festival in Kerala. Thiruonam Nakshatram day in Chingam month is celebrated as Onam festival in Malayalam calendar. This is a 10-day festival starts on Atham day in the same month. But nowadays, it is celebrated for 2-3 days only. First Onam date in 2011 was September 8.
Onam festival marks the grand welcome to King Mavali (Mahabali) to his homeland, Kerala. The boat races, Pookalam (floral designs), cultural activities like singing & dancing competitions are the grand aspects of Onam festival in Kerala. During Onam festival, Kerala, God’s Own Country, gets ready with beautiful natural beauty integrated with rich cultural values of the state.