Onam is a festival celebrated all over Kerala which marks the return of the legendary King Mahabali. This year Onam began on the 1st September and lasted for 10 days. Dating from the 9th century the festival is one of the highlights of the year in Kerala. Breathtaking snake boat races occur between the villages along the backwaters. An extraordinary sight; the huge canoes can hold more than a hundred competitors and competition is fierce. In the evenings Kathakali dancers perform for huge crowds reenacting the legends and folk stories of Kerala while fireworks light up the sky. This is also the season for harvest in Kerala so everything looks even more wonderfully lush than usual. It truly is unmissable. To visit Kerala for Onam contact India Beat.