Onam celebrations begin

The10-day long harvest festival - Onam - began in Kerala on Friday. The festival is celebrated after the harvest has been reaped and granaries are full, a sure sign of prosperity. It begins on the first day of Malayalam month 'Chingam' and culminates in 'Thiruvonam', with a grand feast. The celebrations for the festival begin with traditional prayers in preparation for welcoming the mythical King Mahabali.