Onam an Introduction

Welcome to the Wonders of Onam in Kerala

Personal Onam Discovery

We were pleasantly surprised when we heard that the community we lived in was having an Onam celebration, as we believed we had arrived too late to celebrate Onam. In Kerala, India, Onam is a 10-day long harvest festival that typically falls between August and September each year. The festival marks the Malayalam New Year and all Kerala’s communities, regardless of religion, caste or creed, celebrate the festival.

Author’s image and feet

This will be the first in a series of blogs where I’ll share my personal experiences immersed in the sights, sounds and spirit of this culturally rich harvest festival. There is so much to discover and enjoy, so let’s start.

Overview of Onam

The festival is essentially Hindu and honors the legendary homecoming of King Mahabali, a beloved ruler treated as a demigod. His annual visit from the underworld fills Kerala with joy and prosperity.

You’ll find infectious festive cheer everywhere during Onam. Public spaces burst with elaborate floral decorations called pookalam. Traditional arts like dance and music come alive on streets filled with processions.

Key Events to Explore in this Series

In this blog series, I’ll provide you with an insider’s view into key Onam festivities. I’ll share personal experiences, or spectacular events. These include:

• exciting snake boat races that disturb the normally calm waters of the backwaters;
• the rhythmic dance performances to welcome King Mahabali;
• feasts called onasadya that are served up communally on banana leaves;
• the colorful elephant procession called Gajamela.

My aim is to virtually transport you to the heart of scenic Kerala during this beautiful time of celebration. I want you to learn about the origins, rituals, and cultural significance of Onam alongside my own personal journey. You’ll get a taste of the infectious joy, community spirit, and deep traditions on display.

Author’s image

Joining Global Onam Celebrations

I hope through this blog series you’ll gain appreciation for Kerala’s welcoming culture and rich history. Onam fosters a wonderful sense of connection and belonging. Even if you cannot make it to Kerala, there are Malayalam communities all over the world. Each one will celebrate Onam. If you can’t make it to Kerala, get a Malayali friend to take you along to next year’s Onam.

P.S.

Malayali (മലയാളി in Malayalam script) refers to an ethnic group originating from the state of Kerala in southwestern India. Malayali with ‘am’ replacing the ‘i’ gets the word Malayalam, the native language of Kerala, which translates to “the one who speaks Malayalam.”