Onam- not just a harvest festival or a mythological Hindu celebration, it is instead an out and out Malayalee festivity. Come the month of Chingam (August-September) and this small southern state of Kerala turns into one big carnival showcasing the diverse yet rich and colourful cultural and traditional heritage. Irrespective of caste and religion, this grand festival is celebrated with equal zeal and fervour by the Malayalee community, reinforcing the secular character of the festival. The ten day long celebrations begin with Atham and culminate on Thiruvonam with the Onasadya, the elaborate spread of gastronomically delicious Kerala cuisines.