Archive · 26 Aug 2026
At Kerala Temple, Monkeys Receive Royal Onam Feast
Onam is a big harvest festival celebrated in Kerala.
At an old temple in Sasthamcotta, people prepare a special feast for monkeys.
They place the food on banana leaves around the temple.
The monkeys come down from the trees when the meal is ready.
They eat rice, payasam and crunchy chips.
Mothers, older monkeys and young monkeys all join the feast.
People believe these monkeys are connected to Lord Rama’s Vanara army.
Because of this story, caring for them is seen as a sacred tradition.
Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Sasthamcotta hosts a special Onam feast for monkeys.
Devotees and temple staff serve the monkeys a vegetarian spread on plantain leaves.
The feast includes payasam, crispy chips, rice and other traditional sadya dishes.
Monkeys reportedly gather calmly, with mothers, alpha males and juveniles eating together.
Local legend says the monkeys descend from Lord Rama’s Vanara army, making their care sacred.
- Who
- Devotees, temple staff and a troop of monkeys at Sree Dharma Sastha Temple.
- What
- A special vegetarian Onam sadya is served to the temple’s monkeys.
- When
- During Onam festivities.
- Where
- Sree Dharma Sastha Temple in Sasthamcotta, Kollam, Kerala.
- Why
- Local legend says the monkeys descend from the Vanara army that assisted Lord Rama, making their care a sacred duty.
- Festival
- Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival
- Temple
- Sree Dharma Sastha Temple
- Location
- Sasthamcotta, Kollam, Kerala
- Animal guests
- Monkeys living around the temple
- Serving method
- Food is arranged on broad plantain leaves
- Meal
- A vegetarian sadya including rice, payasam and crispy chips
- Local belief
- The monkeys are considered descendants of Lord Rama’s Vanara army