What is Onam? Everything you need to know about Kerala's harvest festival
Dubai: If you have noticed banana leaves, floral carpets and festive outfits taking over neighbourhoods like Karama and Bur Dubai this week, here is the story behind it all. Onam is Kerala's biggest and most beloved festival, a ten-day harvest celebration that this year runs to eleven, and it is one of the most widely observed regional festivals among the UAE's large Indian expat community. The…
Onam is Kerala's most cherished and widely observed regional festival, stretching over a decade-long celebration that began this year on August 16. The festival is rooted in a mythical tale of King Mahabali, a benevolent ruler who ruled Kerala during the golden age of prosperity and harmony; a time when there was no poverty, inequality, or sorrow.
Legend has it, that Mahabali was sent to the underworld by the god Vamana, an avatar of Vishnu, but he was granted a wish to return to Kerala once a year to visit his people. This is when Onam comes to life.
The ten-day-long festival is a celebration of homecoming, with each day dedicated to various festivities. The highlight of these celebrations is the grand feast, known as Onam Sadhya – a lavish spread of vegetarian dishes served on a banana leaf. Other popular traditions include the floral carpet (Pookalam), snake boat race (Vallamkali), and traditional dance (Thiruvathira). The climax of the festival, Thiruvonam, falls on August 26, marking the annual return of the mythical King Mahabali.
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