The Legend Behind Onam
Onam is Kerala’s most celebrated and culturally significant festival, observed with great enthusiasm by Malayalis across the world. Rooted in agrarian traditions and mythological lore, Onam marks the annual homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali—a benevolent ruler whose reign is said to have brought peace, prosperity, and equality to the land.
The festival usually falls in August or September, during the Malayalam month of Chingam, coinciding with the harvest season. The legend of Mahabali is at the heart of Onam. According to mythology, the virtuous Asura king was sent to the netherworld by Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar, but was granted permission to visit his people once a year. Onam commemorates this visit, symbolising a time when harmony and generosity reigned.
Ten Days of Onam Celebrations
The festival spans ten days, beginning with Atham and peaking on Thiruvathira. Communities create intricate flower carpets (pookalam) and perform traditional dances like Thiruvathira and Pulikali. Spectacular snake boat races (Vallamkali) draw crowds to Kerala’s backwaters during Onam.
Along the coast, the festival also brings forth a bounty of seafood delicacies—each dish a testament to Kerala’s rich maritime heritage.
Culinary Traditions
No Onam celebration is complete without its iconic feast, the Sadya. Families prepare special dishes using seasonal harvest ingredients like yam, raw banana, and jackfruit. Popular treats include:
Unniyappam
These golden, bite-sized fritters combine roasted rice flour with mashed banana, jaggery syrup, and coconut bits, fried in aromatic ghee until crisp outside and soft within. Traditionally offered at temples, their caramelized sweetness makes them an Onam favourite.
Chakka Varattiyathu
Cooks slowly simmer ripe jackfruit with jaggery and ghee until the mixture thickens into a glossy preserve. This intensely flavoured delicacy develops deeper notes over weeks of storage, often served as a side during Onam sadya.
Pazham Pori
Street vendors and home cooks alike dip ripe plantain slices in spiced chickpea batter before frying them to perfect crispness. These addictive banana fritters pair wonderfully with evening chai during the festival.
Ada
Steamed in fragrant banana leaves, these soft rice cakes encase sweet fillings of coconut jaggery or savoury lentil stuffings. Their delicate texture and subtle leaf aroma make them essential for Onam snack platters.
Community Spirit
Beyond its mythological roots, Onam is a celebration of community, hospitality, and gratitude for the earth’s abundance. It brings together people of all faiths and backgrounds in a joyous expression of Kerala’s cultural identity—through art, ritual, and of course, food.
