In view of the worst devastation in nearly a century suffered by Kerala due to rains and floods, the government on Tuesday cancelled this year's Onam celebrations, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan announced.

The harvest festival is one event that is celebrated across the state. The Kerala government, which had earmarked Rs 30 crore for the cultural events to be held all across the state, decided to divert that amount to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. The week-long festivities were to take place in August -- with the Thiru Onam falling on August 25. "What has occurred in our state has been the worst ever (disaster). A total of 444 villages have been affected.