About This Festival
Onam is the most celebrated traditional festival of Kerala — a ten-day cultural and religious celebration held in the Malayalam month of Chingam, usually during August–September. The central day is Thiruvonam, associated with the Shravana/Thiruvonam nakshatra. Onam combines several themes — mythology, harvest, family reunion, food, music, dance, flowers, traditional games and Kerala's cultural identity. The festival is traditionally connected with the legendary king Mahabali. According to the story, Mahabali was a generous and popular king whose kingdom was prosperous and peaceful. Vishnu appeared before him as a dwarf Brahmin called Vamana and asked Mahabali for only three paces of land. Vamana then assumed a gigantic cosmic form: with the first step he covered the earth, with the second the heavens. There was nowhere left for the third step, so Mahabali offered his own head. Vishnu then sent him to the netherworld, but allowed him to return once a year to visit his beloved people. Onam celebrates this annual return. During the ten-day celebration, families decorate their homes with beautiful flower carpets (pookalam), prepare the famous vegetarian Onam Sadya on banana leaves and gather with relatives. Kerala's culture comes alive through boat races (Vallam Kali), traditional dances and folk performances such as Pulikali. Onam is the festival when Kerala welcomes its legendary king Mahabali — and welcomes abundance, family and community along with him.
Where to Celebrate
Plan Your Visit
Onam in Kerala — pookalam flower carpets, the Onam Sadya feast and the famous Vallam Kali boat races — is the most joyful time to visit.
View JourneyKerala's backwaters come alive during Onam with Vallam Kali snake boat races — a spectacular sight on the waterways.
View JourneyTime your Kerala section to fall during Onam for the grandest harvest celebration in South India.
View JourneyExperience Onam in Kerala — flower carpets, feasts and the spirit of King Mahabali's return fill every home.
View Journey
October – March
Bangalore · Hassan · Mysore · Ooty · Kochi · Munnar · Periyar · Kumarakom · Thottapalli · Kovalam · Trivandrum
October – March
Bangalore · Mysore · Nagarhole · BR Hills · Bandipur · Ooty · Munnar · Periyar · Kumarakom · Thothapalli · Kovalam · Trivandrum
Upcoming dates to be confirmed. Enquire with Om for the latest information.
Om will design your itinerary to arrive at the perfect moment.
