Onam is the most important festive occasion in Kerala, South India. Admire colorful flower carpets decorated with gleaming brass lamps, watch thiruvathirakali dance performances and gorge on traditional Kerala cuisine as you join in the joyous festivities during the Onam festival celebrations. The people of Kerala celebrate Onam with great gusto and pomp, every house in Kerala is cleaned and decorated, women and children sport traditional saris and dresses as they dance around brass lamps in exultation to welcome the legendary King Mahabali. Among the many legends associated with the Kerala Onam festival the one that is the most popular is associated with the great King Mahabali. King Mahabali was a just and pious ruler whose descendants were demons. The people enjoyed such prosperity and happiness under his reign that they fell in love with their ruler to the extent that even the gods and deities grew jealous of him.

All the gods prayed to the Lord Vishnu to do something about the situation. It was then that Lord Vishnu descended on earth, disguised as a dwarf Brahmin who went begging for alms to the great King Mahabali. When Mahabali asked the Brahmin what did he want, the Brahmin declared that he wanted all the land that he could cover in three steps and King Mahabali acquiesced. The Lord covered the seas and land with one step and the heavens with his second. King Mahabali recognized Lord Vishnu and offered the lord his head for the final step. King Mahabali was sent to the underworld. Though he was allowed to come and meet his beloved subjects once a year.