When is Onam in 2025: Rituals and significance

New Delhi: Onam is an auspicious festival for South Indians, celebrated with great pomp and show for 10 days. Especially in Kerala, Onam has a special place in people’s hearts and is commemorated with great zeal and passion. Both Keralites and Malayalis observe the Onam festival with utmost devotion.

Onam marks the beginning of the harvesting season and the end of the monsoon. It is observed during Shravana Nakshatra and on Dwadashi Tithi of Shukla Paksha in the month of Bhadrapada, or the Chingam month of the Malayalam solar calendar. During this 10-day festival, people prepare feasts, decorate their homes, and perform pujas and rituals to welcome King Mahabali to Earth. If you want to know more about Onam and celebrate it this year, here’s all you need to know about the famous South Indian festival.

Onam is a 10-day festival. In 2025, Onam began with Atham on August 26. The last of Onam is known as Thiruvonam. This year, Thiruvonam falls on September 5. According to the Drik Panchang, Onam is celebrated on the day when Thiruvonam nakshatra is dominant in the Chingam month. In other Hindu calendars, Thiruvonam nakshatra is known as Shravan nakshatra.  

Thiruvonam Nakshatram starts -September 04, 2025, at 11:44 PM

Thiruvonam Nakshatram ends -September 05, 2025, at 11:38 PM

Sunrise - 6:01 AM

Sunset - 6:38 PM

Moonrise - 5:16 PM

Brahma Muhurta - 4:30 AM to 5:16 AM

Abhijit - 11:54 AM to 12:45 PM

Nishita Muhurta - 11:57 PM to 12:43 AM, September 6

Onam has a rich history that has mesmerised generations to this day. The history of Onam dates back to the time when King Mahabali was a powerful ruler of Kerala. He was a very generous man, and as a result, during his reign, his kingdom was very peaceful and rich. Once King Mahabali defeated the deities, the adversaries of the demons. To take revenge on King Mahabali, the deities sent Lord Vishnu to get rid of him.

Lord Vishnu took the avatar of a Vamana (Brahmin) and then decided to test King Mahabali. Lord Vishnu requested land that was the size of his three feet. After King Mahabali agreed, Lord Vishnu asked him where he should place his third step after covering the worlds in two steps. To this, King Mahabali asked him to place his third step on his step. Seeing the devotion, Lord Vishnu was impressed and blessed him so that he would be able to visit his kingdom, Kerala, once a year. For this reason, people in Kerala celebrate Onam when their beloved king Mahabali is believed to return to his kingdom.

Onam is one of the significant festivals for Hindus. It is a majorly South Indian festival celebrated mainly by Malayalis and Keralites with great grandeur and enthusiasm. People on Onam pray to Lord Vamana and King Mahabali for health, prosperity, happiness, and abundance. Onam celebrations include rangoli making with flowers, decorating the main door of the house with garlands and leaves, and exchanging sweets with loved ones.

The Onam celebrations hold a religious and cultural significance in South India. Onam is an opportunity to reconnect with our loved ones and celebrate the festival with glam and glitz. On this day, people participate in a variety of cultural events, including boat races, singing and music competitions, and dancing together as a community.

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One of the Onam traditions includes donating sweets and home-cooked food to those who need. Another tradition that is followed on the day of Thiruvonam is placing Thrikkakara Appan on the top of a ‘Peetham’ on a plantain leaf and a ‘kalam’ that is drawn using rice batter. Then the members of the family take a bath and wear new clothes before worshipping Thrikkakara Appan or Mathevar.

Onam is a festival that brings people and communities together to celebrate with great fervour. This is one of the memorable days for Keralites that resembles unity, optimism, and the deep connection between a noble ruler and his subjects. Knowing the cultural significance and history of the festival makes the Onam 2025 celebrations more impactful.