Celebrate Onam with Pookalam, Thiruvathira, and other performances and games like tug of war, three-legged race, Uriyadi, and musical chair.

For a Malayali, Onam is not just a festival. It is a reason for everyone to unite as a community, irrespective of their differences to dance, sing, and most importantly, to feast. But what exactly is Onam? 

Celebrated with much enthusiasm and zest, Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, occurring annually in the Chingam month of the Malayalam calendar. It marks the homecoming of the great King Mahabali and the harvest season of the land. 

As the legend goes, Mahabali, the benevolent and generous ruler of the land of Kerala was envied by the Gods, who urged Lord Vishnu to help them end his rule. Lord Vishnu took the form of Vamana, a poor Brahmin, and went to Mahabali’s court seeking ​“three paces” of land. 

The generous king agreed to the request but was tricked as Vamana started growing in size, covering the earth and heaven in two steps. Finally, to keep the promise given to Vamana, Mahabali offered his head to step on for the third pace of land. 

Impressed by the gesture, Vamana blessed him with the chance to visit his kingdom and kin once every year. And thus, his homecoming came to be known as Onam.

But today, Onam is more than just a legend; it is a spectrum of cultural and colourful events celebrating equality, fairness, justice, prosperity, splendour and grandeur. It is a carnival more than anything.

So come one, come all and celebrate with us this beautiful occasion of happiness!

Events: Pookalam (pattern made with flowers or a flower rangoli), Thiruvathira (traditional group dance), and other performances

Games: Tug of war, three-legged race, Uriyadi (break the pot) and musical chair

We look forward to seeing you all at Aarppo ​’22.

Onashamsakal!