Onam is a major harvest festival celebrated mainly by Keralites around the world annually, it usually falls in the Malayalam calendar month of Chingham and will be celebrated on August 21, this year. Onam is observed to celebrate the homecoming of the great demon king Mahabali who returns to see his beloved subjects.

This year, the coronavirus pandemic has dampened the festive spirit around Onam and people have been advised to celebrate indoors. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that people should celebrate the festival within their homes and use locally available flowers for the traditional floral carpet in view of the Covid-19 situation.