Kerala welcomed Onam on Thursday with a burst of colour, music, and festive cheer, marking the beginning of three days of the state’s grandest cultural celebration. The harvest festival, deeply rooted in mythology and tradition, unites devotion, joy, and social bonding, cutting across caste, faith, and age.
From dawn, homes across the state came alive with preparations. Women and children in traditional attire crafted intricate pookkalams (floral carpets) at their doorsteps to greet the legendary King Mahabali, whose yearly return Onam commemorates. Temples, shopping hubs, and public spaces too reflected the festive spirit, decorated with flowers and lanterns.
The week-long state-level festivities were inaugurated in Thiruvananthapuram by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who highlighted Kerala’s enduring unity, harmony, and inclusiveness as the driving forces behind its progress. This year’s celebrations centre on the theme “Onam Orumayude Eenam: The Real Kerala Story”. Vijayan noted that the state’s Nava Kerala vision reflects the same spirit of inclusivity, ensuring that even the most marginalized are part of the state’s development journey.
At the core of Onam lies the Onasadya—a sumptuous vegetarian banquet served on banana leaves. Kitchens across Kerala began preparing the elaborate meal, which includes more than 20 dishes such as avial, sambar, thoran, and an array of payasams. Families gathered to host early sadyas for relatives and friends, underlining Onam’s essence as a festival of togetherness.
Beyond homes, the government has lined up cultural programmes, art fairs, and performances to showcase Kerala’s heritage. Tourism centres reported a surge in visitors, many drawn by special Onam packages offering a glimpse into the state’s vibrant traditions. Markets also stayed crowded, with people making last-minute purchases of kasavu saris, flowers, bananas, and feast essentials.
Onam is more than just a celebration—it is often seen as Kerala’s cultural identity in motion. The festival symbolizes prosperity, unity, and equality, values associated with Mahabali’s golden reign. As the celebrations build toward Thiruvonam, the final day, Kerala’s collective spirit of joy and inclusiveness shines through, binding communities together in tradition and hope for abundance.
Interestingly, the festival also boosts liquor sales, with the Kerala State Beverages Corporation recording its highest revenues during this season. With schools and colleges closed for the week, the state has fully immersed itself in the festivities, awaiting the grand culmination of Onam.
