Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam inaugurated on Wednesday the Tripunithura Atha Chamayem event that marks the beginning of Onam in the state.
Kerala cabinet ministers K. Babu and Anup Jacob were also present on the occasion.
Onam is Kerala's harvest festival and the people are getting ready to celebrate it.
Over the years, the celebrations of Onam start on Atham day, 10 days before Thiruvonam.
Onam falls in the month of "Chingam" which is the first month according to the Malayalam calendar and Thiruvonam the most important day in the Onam calendar, this year, takes place on 28 August.
According to the legend, the state had its golden period during the reign of King Mahabali as everyone was a contended lot. Thus, King Mahabali's annual visit to see his subjects is celebrated as Onam.