Thiru Onam, the main day of the ten-day Onam festival, is being celebrated with joy and fervour in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu that adjoins the Thiruvananthapuram district of Kerala.<br />'' <br />''Traditional flower carpets adorn many houses of the district and every one is dressed in their best to receive Emperor Maveli on his once a year traditional visit to his homeland.<br />'' <br />''Onam has special significance in Kanyakumari district because it is a harvest festival. Traditional Onam delicacies like banana chips as well as flowers are being prepared in various places in the district like Marthandam and Thiruvattar.<br />'' <br />''This year Onam celebrations are being held, on a muted scale, at the Thiruvattar Adikesava Perumal temple in the district, which is a replica in miniature of the famous Padmanabha Swamy temple in Thiruvananthapuram.<br />'' <br />''However, the official Onam celebrations at Thakkalai Padmanabhapuram Palace have been cancelled. Local holiday has been announced in the district.<br />'' <br />''<span style="color: #222222;">The practice of offering Onavillu (Onam bows painted with organic scenes using vegetable colours) in the Padmanabha Swamy temple is believed to have its beginning in Thiruvattar.</span><br />