Aarav Rajeev, 10, stands in line for onasadya, a traditional Kerala feast, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Rajesh Konanganparambath serves avial during Onasadya, a traditional Kerala feast, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A young girl holds a thaalam, traditionally a plate carrying lamps and flowers, for the chenda procession at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Narayanan Nambiar, 68, plays the chenda at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Sunnyvale Mayor Larry Klein (center) walks in the chenda procession at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Chenda drums are carried during the chenda melam, a procession of instruments, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A pookalam, a traditional floral art from Kerala, is displayed in the auditorium lobby, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Two young girls sing in Malayalam at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A student of Navarasa Dance Theater centers himself before performing kalaripayattu, a martial art from Kerala, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Students of Navarasa Dance Theater perform kalaripayattu, a martial art from Kerala, at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Attendees watch the performances at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A young girl holds cymbals at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Shreya Kiran, 11, stands backstage waiting to perform bharatanatyam at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
Members of local dance troupe Pranavam Thiruvathira perform thiruvathirakali onstage at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local
A bharatanatyam dancer on the jungle gym while waiting to perform at the Onam celebrations at Bishop Elementary School in Sunnyvale, Calif. on Sept. 9, 2023. Onam is a harvest festival from Kerala. The event is hosted by the Nair Service Society of California. Photo: Sree Sripathy for India Currents/CatchLight Local

Sree Sripathy joined India Currents as a staff photographer and CatchLight Local Fellow as part of CatchLight's California Local Visual Desk program in June 2022. Reach out with story ideas or comments...