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What is Onam and why is it celebrated?

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The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree....
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Onam is a Hindu harvest festival that marks the Malayali New Year and is primarily observed in the southwestern Indian state of Keralam (formerly Kerala). It is observed in the Malayali month of Chingam, which falls in August and September. Onam celebrates the brief annual return of King Mahabali, the legendary asura king of Keralam. It is also a holiday of thankfulness for the harvest.