Archive · 26 Aug 2026
Kerala Celebrates Onam With Traditional Fervour, Feasts And Prayers
Onam is a major festival celebrated in Kerala and by Malayalis around the world.
Thiruvonam is the most important day of the festival.
People wear new clothes, visit temples and pray.
Children and young people make colourful flower designs called pookkalams.
Families prepare a large vegetarian meal called Onasadya, which includes payasam.
The festival remembers the mythical King Mahabali and his peaceful, prosperous rule.
People believe Mahabali visits his kingdom once a year during Onam.
Although Onam began in the Hindu tradition, people from different religions celebrate it.
Leaders said the festival represents unity, equality and harmony.
Kerala celebrated Thiruvonam, the festival’s most important day, with traditional fervour and gaiety.
Devotees wearing new Onakkodi clothes visited temples, which reported heavy rushes, including Sabarimala and Guruvayur.
Families decorated homes with colourful pookkalams to welcome the mythical King Mahabali.
Onasadya, a vegetarian feast featuring several dishes and payasam, was a central part of the celebrations.
Leaders including Droupadi Murmu and Narendra Modi sent greetings emphasizing unity, equality, harmony and prosperity.
- Who
- People across Kerala and Malayalis worldwide celebrated Onam; national and Kerala leaders sent greetings.
- What
- Thiruvonam, the main day of the annual harvest and cultural festival of Onam, was celebrated with prayers, floral decorations and feasts.
- When
- Wednesday, during the Malayalam month of Chingam, which falls between August and September.
- Where
- Across Kerala, at temples and homes, and among Malayalis around the world.
- Why
- The festival honours the mythical King Mahabali and commemorates a remembered era of peace, plenty and equality.
- Festival
- Onam, Kerala’s traditional annual harvest and cultural festival
- Main day
- Thiruvonam, the second and most important day of Onam
- Traditional clothing
- New clothes called Onakkodi
- Home decoration
- Pookkalams, or colourful floral carpets
- Traditional feast
- Onasadya, a vegetarian meal served with dishes including payasam
- Mythical figure honoured
- King Mahabali, believed to visit his people during Thiruvonam
- Major temples mentioned
- Sabarimala, Sree Krishna Temple at Guruvayur and Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram