First Onam
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
Onam is a Hindu rice harvest festival primarily kept by Hindus of Malayalam descent. In 2026, Onam falls on Tuesday 25 August. The holiday will be on Saturday 11 September in 2027. The date of the Onam festival varies on the Gregorian Calendar, but it falls sometime in either August or September. It is the start of the new year on the Malayalam Calendar. In Kerala state, many Christians celebrate Onam as well, and the festival takes places in churches and with a “Christian spin” put on it. Muslims living in Kerala are told by their leaders that Onam is sacrilegious, but many Muslims keep it in spite of the warnings. To many, it is seen as a cultural event rather than as specifically religious, though it is based on Hindu myths of gods and demons. Events to look for, should you be in Kerala for Onam, include: “pookkalam” flower arrangements, boat races, tiger dances, cultural women’s dances, traditional music, donning of colourful masks and costumes, martial arts contests, and religious offerings and worship.
History
It is the start of the new year on the Malayalam Calendar. Muslims living in Kerala are told by their leaders that Onam is sacrilegious, but many Muslims keep it in spite of the warnings. To many, it is seen as a cultural event rather than as specifically religious, though it is based on Hindu myths of gods and demons. Events to look for, should you be in Kerala for Onam, include: “pookkalam” flower arrangements, boat races, tiger dances, cultural women’s dances, traditional music, donning of co
How It's Celebrated
Onam is a Hindu rice harvest festival primarily kept by Hindus of Malayalam descent. The holiday will be on Saturday 11 September in 2027. The date of the Onam festival varies on the Gregorian Calendar, but it falls sometime in either August or September. In Kerala state, many Christians celebrate O