Onam 2023: The ten-day festival is celebrated with much fervour

The ten-day-long festival of Onam is here. Also known as Thiru-Onam or Thirvonam, this harvest celebrates the return of King Mahabali to his beloved state, Kerala. This year, Onam festivities began on August 20 and will last till August 31. Let's take a look at how people are celebrating this auspicious festival.

In this photo, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrives for the inauguration of 'Atham' procession at Thrippunithura, in Kochi. (PTI Photo)

Women participate in a tug-of-war competition as part of Onam celebrations at Ramakrishna Math, in Ernakulam. (PTI Photo)

Artists work on statues ahead of the festival of Onam, in Kochi. (PTI Photo)

Artists perform 'Kathakali' as part of the Onam celebrations at the International Airport, in Thiruvananthapuram. (PTI Photo)

Artists wait to participate in a procession marking 'Atham', the first day of the ten-day-long Onam festival in Kochi, Kerala. (AP Photo/RS Iyer)

Two folk artists chat as they wait to participate in a procession marking 'Atham', the first day of the ten-day-long Onam festival in Kochi, Kerala. (AP Photo/RS Iyer)

A family walks past artists waiting to participate in a procession marking 'Atham', the first day of the ten-day-long Onam festival in Kochi, Kerala. (AP Photo/R S Iyer)

Traditional drummers wait to participate in a procession marking 'Atham', the first day of the ten-day-long Onam festival in Kochi, Kerala. (AP Photo/RS Iyer)

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan arrives for the inauguration of 'Atham' procession at Thrippunithura in Kochi. (PTI Photo)

Athapookkalam (rangoli of flowers), Thiruvathirakkali, Pulikali (recreational folk dance from Kerala) and Onam Sadhya (feast) were the order of the day during ‘Onam’ celebrations at ‘Chaithanya Institute for Mental Health’ on Monday as the Kerala community celebrates ‘Thiruvonam'. (Express Photo by Arul Horizon)