Regional Festival · Select a year for the Gregorian date
Onam: Thiruvonam Date, Pookkalam, Onasadya and Kerala Harvest Guide
Kerala’s harvest festival is dated by Thiruvonam nakshatra in Chingam. Select a year for the Thiruvonam date.
ओणम · · Shukla Dashami
- Muhurat (2026)
- 06:21 AM to 06:22 PM
- Hindu month
- Ashwin
- Regions
- Kerala
- Deity
- King Mahabali (legend); Vamana avatara of Vishnu in temple ritual
Onam welcomes the annual visit of the legendary King Mahabali (Maveli). It is Kerala’s principal cultural festival, observed across Hindu communities, and widely as a secular harvest holiday in the state. The ten-day sequence begins on Atham and peaks on Thiruvonam. Households should follow the Malayalam Panchangam for the exact day-night split. Families create pookkalam (floral carpets), serve Onasadya (a multi-dish vegetarian feast on banana leaf), and attend vallam kali (snake-boat races) where scheduled. Pulikali, kaazhcham and temple festivals fill the week. It is a public holiday in Kerala.
When is Onam?
The main day, Thiruvonam, is Sunday, 20 September, 2026. The festival is nakshatra-based (Thiruvonam / Shravana star) in Chingam, not a simple tithi. First Onam (Uthradam) is typically the previous day, when Mahabali is said to arrive. Atham, ten days earlier, starts pookkalam in many homes. Use the year selector to see any other calendar. If you live outside Kerala, follow a Malayalam calendar rather than a North Indian Panchang, which may not highlight Thiruvonam.
- Thiruvonam: Sunday, 20 September, 2026.
- Nakshatra: Chingam Thiruvonam (Shravana). Confirm local start and end times.
- Public holiday in Kerala on Thiruvonam.
Pookkalam, Onasadya and boat races
Add a new ring of flowers to the pookkalam each morning of the ten days. Onasadya traditionally includes rice, sambar, avial, olan, thoran, pachadi, pickles, banana chips, sharkara varatti, and payasam — counts of “26 dishes” vary by household wealth and time. Serve on a banana leaf with the pointed end to the left of the diner in classic etiquette. Vallam kali events (Nehru Trophy and others) have their own sporting dates around the season; they are cultural highlights, not a substitute for Thiruvonam at home.
| Element | Practice |
|---|---|
| Atham | First pookkalam; festival opens |
| Uthradam (First Onam) | Preparations; Mahabali arrives |
| Thiruvonam | Main sadya, new clothes (onakkodi) |
| Avittam / Third Onam | Pookkalam farewell in some homes |
The Mahabali story and inclusive Onam
The Bhagavata and Kerala folklore tell of generous asura king Mahabali, sent to the netherworld by Vamana, yet granted a yearly visit to see his people. Onam is therefore about prosperity, equality at the sadya leaf, and the idea that a just ruler is remembered. Temples perform Vamana-related rites; the public culture of Kerala treats Onam as a harvest home for everyone. Dress code is often kasavu saree or mundu — comfortable cotton is enough if you do not own silk.
Key sacred rituals
- Creating intricate Pookkalam (floral carpets) for 10 days
- Serving 26+ dish grand feast on banana leaf (Onasadya)
- Vallam Kali (Snake Boat Races) and Pulikali tiger dance
Frequently asked questions
When is Thiruvonam Onam?
Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam, is Wednesday, 26 August.
Is Onam based on tithi or nakshatra?
Onam is dated by Thiruvonam nakshatra in the Malayalam month Chingam, not by a North Indian tithi such as Purnima.
How many days is Onam?
The classical festival spans ten days from Atham to Thiruvonam. Offices in Kerala holiday on Thiruvonam; some also on Uthradam.
Do I need 26 dishes for Onasadya?
No. A sincere vegetarian sadya with rice, a few curries, pickle, papadam and payasam is complete. Larger menus are festive, not mandatory.
Is Onam only a Hindu festival?
Temple rites are Hindu, but Onam is also Kerala’s cultural harvest holiday, widely shared across communities in the state.
Muhurat times are indicative for IST and may vary by city sunrise and tithi. Confirm with Today's Panchang.