Onam Celebrations Fill Kerala with Homecomings, Sadya & Traditions

From the laughter of children around flower carpets to the joyful reunions of families separated by oceans, Keralam came alive as people celebrated the festival with joy and fervour.

For many households, the harvest festival was more than a day of traditional food and new clothes. It was a long-awaited homecoming, with sons, daughters and grandchildren returning from different parts of the world to sit together for the grand Onam 'sadya' (feast), a delicious, largely vegetarian spread.

In several homes, the arrival of family members from foreign countries added a special warmth to the celebrations.

"Onam feels truly complete when the entire family comes together. We had been eagerly waiting for our children and grandchildren to return, and having them with us today is the most precious gift," Susheela Devi, a retired government employee from Pandalam in Pathanamthitta, told PTI.

Devi, whose both children work abroad, eagerly looks forward to the Onam season each year, preparing homemade banana chips and delicious sharkara upperi (jaggery-coated banana chips) in anticipation of her grandchildren's arrival.

The morning began with people stepping out in signature Onam attire, with women in 'kasavu' sarees and men in 'mundu' (dhoti), as temples across the state drew devotees from the early hours.

At the Guruvayoor Sreekrishna temple and other major shrines, large numbers of devotees arrived to offer prayers on the auspicious Thiruvonam day.

The grey skies and intermittent showers in several parts of the state failed to dampen the festive mood.

Across homes, children and youngsters competed to create colourful pookkalams (floral carpets), experimenting with patterns, flowers and designs. For the younger generation, however, Onam was also about the simple pleasures of a new dress, a swing in the courtyard and an indulgent feast.

"I am so excited to wear my new Onam dress today. I helped make the pookkalam, and I'm looking forward to spending the day playing on the oonjal (swing) and enjoying the sadya (feast)," said Adithi, a six-year-old girl from Thiruvananthapuram.

Poorna, another youngster, summed up the excitement of the day differently: "I like Onam because everyone is at home, we get new clothes, and there is payasam."

In villages and residential neighbourhoods, traditional oonjals appeared in courtyards, drawing children and adults alike. The swings, once an inseparable part of village Onam, continued to provide a familiar link with celebrations of earlier generations.

The highlight of the day in most households is the sumptuous Onam sadya, with families gathering around banana leaves for a spread of, mostly vegetarian dishes.

Onam sadya comprises a sumptuous spread of traditional vegetarian delicacies--avial, olan, thoran, erissery, sambar, parippu curry, pachadi, kichadi, pickles, pappadam and payasam (sweet pudding), served on a banana leaf.

Women and other family members began preparations early, turning kitchens into busy spaces as different dishes were cooked and served together.

Outside homes, local clubs and community groups kept the festive spirit alive with traditional competitions and cultural programmes. Vadamvali, uriyadi and other games brought together people of different generations, while performances of Pulikali, Thiruvathira and Theyyam added colour to public celebrations.

For many, the enduring appeal of Onam lies in this ability to bring together different generations and communities.

The festival is traditionally associated with the mythical demon King Mahabali, whose rule is remembered in Kerala's folklore as a period of prosperity, equality and happiness.

According to legend, Mahabali was sent to the netherworld by Lord Vishnu but was granted permission to return once a year to meet his people, giving rise to the enduring belief that his annual homecoming takes place on Thiruvonam.

The festival has over the years grown beyond its mythological origins to become a shared cultural celebration cutting across social and religious boundaries.

It is also one of Keralam's busiest shopping periods. Markets, malls and streets remained crowded in the days leading up to Thiruvonam, with families making last-minute purchases for clothes, food and household celebrations.

Fair-price outlets operated by the State Civil Supplies Corporation, Horticorp and Consumerfed also witnessed queues as people stocked up for the feast.

But as the shops began to empty and the streets slowly quietened on Wednesday, the heart of Onam remained inside homes -- around dining tables, courtyards and flower-decked entrances where families gathered to celebrate together.

And for families reunited after long separations, the most cherished part of the festival was perhaps not the elaborate feast or the new clothes, but simply having everyone back home.