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New Delhi: Onam is a harvest festival celebrated by the Hindus in Kerala for 10 days, beginning from August 26 and ending on September 5. The most vibrant part of the festivity is making colourful pookkalam, or floral carpets. Pookkalam is not just about flower decoration; it symbolises abundance, joy, and the welcoming spirit of Onam. The festival marks the end of the monsoon as well as the arrival of the Malayalam New Year. The jubilation signifies the abundance of the year’s crops. The word Onam comes from the Sanskrit word shravanam, which is related to constellations.
Besides creating Onam Pookkalam, people perform various activities, including vallam kali or boat races, pullikali or tiger dances, onathappan or worship, onam kali or traditional game, thumbi thullal or women’s dance, kummattikali or mask dance, onathallu or martial arts and many more. Rituals, commemorating legendary Emperor Mahabali and Hindu mythology, are performed too. Apart from these, people gift new clothes to loved ones. Known as onakkodi, gifting includes traditional white and gold Kasavu sarees for women and Mundu for men. Women also adorn their hair with flowers. They enjoy onam sadhya, a traditional vegetarian feast. It features 26 to 28 dishes, including rice, various main dishes, pickles, and papad, all served on a banana leaf. A sweet treat called payasam is also made.
Onam festival is celebrated in the Chingam month of the Malayalam calendar, which typically falls between August and September. The festivities begin on Atham day, when Atham Nakshatra is present, and last for 10 days, culminating on Thiruvonam, the main day. In 2025, Onam celebrations will start on August 26, 2025, and end on Friday, September 5, 2025.
The main day, Thiruvonam Nakshathram, commences on September 4 from 11:44 pm and concludes on September 5 at 11:38 pm.
Hindu legends state that Onam celebrates the homecoming of the Asura King Mahabali from the Patal Lok. It is believed that despite being a demon king, he was a benevolent and generous ruler who had defeated the Gods to take over the three worlds. Owing to this, the Gods despised him and requested Lord Vishnu to help them fight King Mahabali.
Lord Vishnu incarnated as Vamana and tricked King Mahabali into surrendering his kingdom. Vamana said he will take only those parts of his kingdom which is covered by his foot three times. Vamana grew in size and engulfed his kingdom in two steps. King Mahabali followed his words and offered his head as the third step. Moved by his devotion, Vishnu granted the demon king an annual visit to the kingdom, and this is celebrated as Onam. Since then, during Onam, people make vibrant pookkalam at the entrance and cover the streets with pookkalam carpets.
Onam festival has deep significance as it symbolises agricultural prosperity, gratitude of people, the joy of gathering and community bonding, hope and renewal and a promise of a prosperous new year.
Now that you know about Onam’s significance, history and activities, you can plan to visit Kerala to experience the festivity first-hand.
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