Thousands of people from far and wide, in a festive mood, braved the sweltering heat to witness the Athachamayam pageantry at Thripunithura in Ernakulam, Kerala, on Tuesday (August 26, 2025), marking the onset of the Onam festival.

The procession, organised annually by the Thripunithura municipality, showcased Kerala’s rich artistic and cultural heritage along with the State’s celebrated secular spirit.