It's the day on which Kerala was born, along with Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana and more.
The Kasargod taluk in Madras' South Canara district, the Malabar district of Madras and Travancore-Cochin were merged to form the state of Kerala under the States Reorganisation Act in 1956.
Kerala cuisine is not just about the Onam feast. It offers many vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes made with fish, poultry, various meat options and more, combined with traditional Kerala spices and condiments.
The cylindrical steam cake 'puttu' layered with scraped coconut tastes the best with kadala aka chana curry. As a famous band Thakara sings, 'What else do you need if you have 'puttu' in life?'
Appam, also known as palappam or velleppam is a lacy rice pancake that can be teamed up with veg or non-veg stews. It's not just pretty to look at but is totally yummy too.
Often dubbed as the 'most loved combo' or even the 'national food' of Kerala, the flaky, layered porotta made of maida and beef curry is the stuff of legends in the state. If there is anything Kerala will go to war for, it's the right to enjoy porotta and beef, sans any religious divide, according to netizens.
Karimeen aka pearl spot fish roasted in a spicy mix wrapped in banana leaf is a preparation anyone can fall in love with. Pair it up with appam, porotta, tapioca and more and the delicacy can win you over in no time.
Though originally an eons old North Kerala dish, Thalassery biryani has fans all over the state and beyond, for its tempting mix of aromatic kaima rice, spices and meat. Its fragrance can stay with you even hours after relishing the beautifully colourful dish.