From Legend to Celebration: The Spirit of Onam

Onam is Kerala’s heartbeat, uniting people across caste, creed, and faith. Rooted in legend yet vibrant today, it reflects the warmth and richness of God’s Own Country.

Onam, Kerala’s grand harvest festival, is rooted in legend and cherished in tradition. This celebration traces back to the legend of King Mahabali, the Asura ruler loved for his wisdom, compassion, and justice. His reign was a time of abundance and equality, where none went hungry or suffered. Threatened by his growing power, the gods sought Lord Vishnu’s help. Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a Brahmin dwarf, and asked Mahabali for three paces of land. With one step, he spanned the earth; with the next, the skies; and for the third, the noble king offered his head. Vishnu pressed him to the netherworld but granted him the boon of returning once a year. Onam celebrates this homecoming, a remembrance of a golden age of prosperity, harmony, and love.

The Ten Days of Onam

Onam is not a single-day event but a grand ten-day festival, usually falling in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September).

This year it is celebrated from Aug 26th to September 5th. Each day has its own significance, rituals, and vibrance.

Atham – The festival begins with the preparation of the pookalam (flower carpet). The first layer is laid on this day, symbolising the arrival of King Mahabali.

Chithira – More flowers are added to the pookalam, making it more elaborate and colourful.

Chodhi – Families start shopping for new clothes and gifts, and the festive mood deepens.

Vishakam – Considered an auspicious day for markets and trade, households begin stocking items for the grand feast.

Anizham – Preparation for the Vallamkali (snake boat race) begins, one of the most exciting spectacles of Onam.

Thriketa – Families gather, and cultural programmes begin.

Moolam – Traditional art forms like Pulikali (tiger dance) and Kathakali performances are held.

Pooradam – Clay pyramids symbolising Mahabali and Vishnu are placed in homes.

Uthradam – Known as the “first Onam”, it is a day of last-minute shopping and festivity.

Thiruvonam – The main day of celebration, when families come together for prayers, feasts, games, and cultural festivities, welcoming Mahabali into their homes.

The Grandeur of Onam Celebrations

1. Pookalam – The Flower Carpets: The pookalam is a striking symbol of Onam. Families craft intricate floral designs at their doorsteps, each day larger and more colourful. The fragrance and symmetry express devotion and joy, while contests in schools and communities add to the festivities.

2. Onam Sadya – The Grand Feast: No Onam is complete without the Onam Sadya, a vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. Often spanning 20–25 dishes—from rice and sambar to pickles, papadam, and payasam—it is more than a meal; it is a sensory celebration of Kerala’s culinary heritage.

3. Vallamkali – Snake Boat Race: The Vallamkali, or snake boat race, is among the most thrilling events of Onam. Long, sleek boats rowed in unison by hundreds of oarsmen cut through Kerala’s backwaters, cheered by thousands. A breathtaking display of teamwork, strength, and unity.

4. Pulikali – The Tiger Dance: Pulikali, literally “play of the tigers”, is a colourful folk art where performers paint themselves as tigers and hunters, dancing to the beats of drums. Streets come alive with laughter and cheers as these dancers entertain the crowd, bringing energy and fun to the festival.

5. Kaikottikali and Cultural Arts: Women gather in circles to perform the graceful Kaikottikali dance, clapping rhythmically in unison. Traditional art forms like Kathakali, Kummatti Kali, and Thiruvathirakali are staged during Onam, keeping Kerala’s cultural heritage alive.

Beyond Kerala

Though rooted in Kerala, Onam is celebrated worldwide. From the Middle East to the US, Singapore to Europe, Malayalis gather to craft pookalams, share sadya, and stage cultural shows. Beyond nostalgia, Onam carries Kerala’s essence across the globe.

The Spirit of Onam

Beyond rituals and legend, Onam celebrates prosperity, unity, and equality. King Mahabali’s memory recalls a time without poverty, when love and justice ruled. Today, Onam urges us to rise above differences and foster harmony.

Onam is also a celebration of nature. Marking the end of the monsoon, Kerala’s harvest festival gives thanks for the land’s bounty. Greenery, blossoms, and fresh crops symbolise abundance and renewal.

Onam is more than a festival – it is a season, a spirit, a feeling. It is families reuniting, flowers in courtyards, children’s laughter, oars in rhythm, the sweetness of payasam, and above all, the hope that goodness returns. Each year, as Mahabali visits his land, Onam recalls the values of equality, generosity, and joy the world so needs. In the petals of the pookalam, the beat of drums, and the warmth of the sadya, Onam reminds us: prosperity is sweetest when shared.

Happy Onam!

(The writer is a tutor based in Thane.)