Photos: Low-key Onam celebrations for Keralites across India amid COVID-19

A Keralite woman makes 'Pookalam' (flower rangoli) on the occasion of Onam festival in Chikmagalur, Karnataka. Big celebrations were missing this year as the people largely celebrated Thiruvonam indoors to commemorate the visit of the righteous king King Mahabali to the lands and people he previously ruled.

Women decorate a rangoli made by using flowers of several colours to welcome Bhagwan Mahabali to mark the Onam festival, at Uttara Guruvayurappan Temple Mayur Vihar, in New Delhi.

Adhering to COVID-19 protocols, households were adorned with extremely beautiful floral carpets and splendid feasts (Onasadya) were prepared on Thiruvonam day today. | Above: Women giving finishing touches to a pookalam or flower carpet for Onam festival in Kochi.

However, display of traditional art forms and games was not organised in villages and towns in the state. | Above: Girls wearing protective face masks wait to pray inside temple premises, on the outskirts of Kochi.

Woman making pookalam (flower rangoli) on the occasion of Onam festival at Kapaleeshwarar Temple in Chennai.

The Atham festival, which heralds the start of the 10 -day Onam festivities, was also held in the shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic. | Above: An Athapookalam, traditional floral decoration, being done the Sabarimala temple.

Women making flower rangoli on the ocassion of Onam, in Indore (Madhya Pradesh).

A young woman prepares 'Pookalam' on the occasion of Onam festival, amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, in Chennai.

President Ramnath Kovind, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among those who extended their greetings for the harvest festival of Onam. | Above: A group of Malayalees arranges flowers as part of the Pookkalam festival at their residence in Bengaluru.

Extending his wishes, CM Vijayan had on Sunday said Onam was a festival of hope and asked the people to celebrate it in line with the COVID-19 protocol.

Devotees offering prayer on the occasion of Onam festival at the temple, in Kochi.

Keralite women make 'Pookolam' (flower decoration) on the occasion of Onam festival in Coimbatore.

Malayali community people making art outside their house on the occasion of Onam in Ranchi (Jharkhand) on Monday.

In 2018 and 2019 also, Onam celebrations were dampened by the devastating floods in parts of the state. | Above: A pooja held at Sabarimala Temple on Uthradam day, as temple opened for Onam pooja, on Sunday.