Onam 2027ओणम

When is Onam?

Observed on Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the Malayalam month of Chingam. Dates follow the Panchang for New Delhi and can differ by a day in other places — check the Panchang for your city.

What Onam means

Onam is Kerala's great harvest festival and its most loved celebration, falling in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September). It lasts ten days, from Atham to Thiruvonam (the Shravana nakshatra), and celebrates the annual return of King Mahabali, under whose rule, the old song says, "all people were equal, there was no deceit, no theft and no falsehood".

Each day a larger pookalam — a carpet of flowers — is laid at the door to welcome him. On Thiruvonam families wear new clothes, worship Thrikkakara Appan (Vamana), and share the Onam sadya, a feast of more than twenty dishes on a banana leaf. Snake-boat races, the tiger dance and women's Thiruvathirakali fill the days.

Onam is celebrated by Malayalis of every faith, and its spirit of equality and sharing is at its heart.

The story of Onam

Mahabali (Maveli), grandson of Prahlada, was an asura king of great virtue and generosity whose reign brought prosperity to all. The gods, fearing his growing power, asked Vishnu for help.

Vishnu came to Mahabali's sacrifice as Vamana, a young Brahmin, and asked for as much land as he could cover in three steps. Though his guru Shukracharya warned him, Mahabali gladly agreed. Vamana grew to cosmic size, covering the earth in one step and the heavens in the second, and Mahabali offered his own head for the third.

Pleased by his devotion and truthfulness, Vishnu sent him to rule Sutala and granted him one wish: to visit his people once a year. Onam welcomes him home.

Onam puja vidhi, step by step

How Onam is celebrated at home.

What you need

• Fresh flowers for the pookalam (thumba, chethi, marigold)
• A clay pyramid image (Thrikkakara Appan / Onathappan) for worship
• Banana leaves and the ingredients for the sadya
• New clothes (Onakkodi)
• A lamp (nilavilakku)

When to do the puja

In 2027 Thiruvonam falls on Sunday, 12 September; the ten days begin with Atham about nine days earlier. Dates follow the Malayalam calendar; check a Kerala Panchang. See the Panchang for your city.

Steps

1. Atham to Thiruvonam. Lay a pookalam at the door each day, adding a new ring of flowers.
2. Uthradom. The eve of Onam: shopping and preparation of the sadya (the "first Onam").
3. Thiruvonam morning. Bathe, wear new clothes, light the nilavilakku and worship Thrikkakara Appan.
4. Sadya. Serve the feast on banana leaves to family and guests.
5. Games and dances. Join the Onakkalikal — games, Pulikali, Thiruvathirakali and boat races.

Offerings & food: Onam sadya: rice, sambar, avial, olan, kaalan, thoran, pachadi, payasam and banana chips

Mantras for Onam

Onam across India

Kerala and Malayalis worldwide; Thrikkakara Vamana temple near Kochi is its spiritual centre

Kerala

A state festival: pookalam competitions, the Aranmula and Champakulam boat races, Pulikali in Thrissur and the Athachamayam procession at Thrippunithura.

Thrikkakara (near Kochi)

The Vamana temple, held to be Mahabali's capital, holds a ten-day festival.

Malayalis worldwide

Communities across India and abroad gather for sadya and cultural programmes.

Prayers to recite

Do’s and don’ts

Frequently asked questions