Chennai, Aug. 22 -- With Malayalis in Chennai and neighbouring districts heading home to celebrate Onam with their families and near and dear ones, passenger traffic on flights to Kerala has surged sharply, pushing up airfares several fold above normal levels on the Chennai-Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Kozhikode and Kannur sectors.
Onam, one of Kerala's biggest and traditional festivals, will be celebrated on August 26. The festival is observed over several days with families traditionally gathering in their hometowns to celebrate together.
Much like Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Onam is celebrated by Malayalis cutting across caste and religious lines. People living in other states and abroad usually travel back home days in advance to join their f...