This is the traditional season for the Keralan festival called Onam, the one time a year when the mythical King Mahabali leaves the netherworld where he now rules and visits his people to help them celebrate the harvest and their traditions.
It is a time for celebrations strung out over 10 days, featuring performances of Keralan dance, song and other artistic performances fueled by arguably the best cuisine in all of India.
This is the most important festival for Keralans, marking the beginning of Chingam, the first month in the local Malayalam calendar. It is a carnival atmosphere of Snake Boat races, games, elaborate feasts and traditional arts. The accompanying Onasadya feast is typically served on banana leaves and involves nine sumptuous courses.