Onam, a ten-day long festival, is the annual harvest festival of Kerala state, India. On Thiruvonam, the tenth and the prominent day of Onam, preparing ada- a sweet dish made of rice flour, and molasses is an important event. It is put as a Nivedyam (offering) in front of the lamps lit up in front of the Athapookalam, the floral designs made during Onam. It is the priest who offers ada, flowers and water. During this occasion people thank god for the bountiful harvest in the year.

Ada is a streamed sweet dish made from the combination of rice flour, molasses, grated coconut and sugar.