Onam is one festival of Kerala which lends a lot of colour to every household in Kerala. Onam is not a Hindu religious festival like Deepavali and Navaratri; the religious aspect has always remained peripheral. Nowhere else in the world exists such a festival which has permeated the deepest pores of the people. This festival of festivals - Onam, is celebrated wherever there are Malayalis. It points to the overwhelming importance of the festival in the life of the Keralites, despite being separated by continents, culture and life styles.

Keralites in any part of the world rush back to their native land to celebrate Onam. It is an occasion for family gatherings. It is also a perfect symbol of communal harmony since all communities get together and celebrate this truly national festival.

Boat races held in the backwaters and rivers of Kerala are among the most colourful part of the Onam celebrations. The Snake Boat races held in the Kuttanad in Alappuzha district in the first week of July and at Aranmula near Kottayam on the fifth day of Onam are widely known.

Another important aspect of the Onam celebrations is that it is an occasion to bring before the people the dying art and cultural art forms of Kerala. It thus provides an opportunity to rejuvenate the erstwhile culture of the state besides being a source of income for the artists who take part in it. The art forms performed in connection with the Onam celebrations include Pulikali (leopard dance), Kummattikali, Onathallu, Panthukali and a variety of country sports and games.

Onam provides ample opportunity for entertainment and money making. You can take part in the varied programmes and enjoy it. But don't worry even if you are incapable of going out or have no money to spare. Our TV Channels are every ready and vying with one another to entertain you and make you merry. And even when you don't have  a TV of your own, don't worry, just go to your neighbour's house or the nearby park or the reading room to see everything on TV. By sitting in front of it, you can enjoy and celebrate Onam by watching the myriad programmes associated with Onam celebrations.

The commercial establishments are all spruced up for Onam as people generally go on a shopping spree. Stalls are seen even on the pavements of main streets in the cities, selling consumer goods. People crowd these places looking out for anything from clothes, household utensils, ornaments to banana chips to 'Palpayasam' and the like. People usually present gifts to their loved ones for Onam. You can pick up a gift of your choice and  from among the varied items displayed at the show rooms, stalls and shows (depending on your budget).

New clothes, sumptuous feast, the swing and the Pookkalam are the four components of Onam celebration. Irrespective of social status, 'Ona Sadhya' takes a proud place in Onam celebrations. The importance of this sumptuous feast can be seen in the Malayalam proverb, "Kanam Vittum Onam Unnannam", which means one may even sell off one's possessions to have a grand feast to celebrate Onam.