Around this time each year, my heart drifts back to the lush, green landscapes of Kerala—where the scent of jasmine dances in the breeze and the earth feels especially alive. It's when Onam arrives, a festival that isn’t just observed, but felt deeply. A ritual of renewal. A homecoming to the land, to family, to self. 

What Is Onam and How Is It Celebrated? 

Onam is Kerala’s most important festival, a 10 day sacred celebration of abundance, community and spirit, rooted in the harvest season traditionally observed by all communities—Hindu, Muslim and Christian alike, making it a rare and beautiful expression of unity in diversity. It marks the annual return of King Mahabali, a beloved mythical ruler whose reign symbolized peace, equality and prosperity. But for many of us, Onam is also a spiritual and seasonal marker, when we honor nature's generosity and reflect on the cycle of growth. 

As a child, I remember the anticipation building weeks before. Every home would be scrubbed clean, symbolizing the removal of old energy. We’d shop for Onakkodi, the traditional new attire gifted by the family’s eldest. Women would be adorned in white and gold kasavu saris, braiding jasmine through their hair, preparing for dances and temple visits. The air was filled with laughter, music and the aroma of spices and coconut. 

Each morning, we would gather petals to create a Pookalam, an intricate flower mandala placed at the entrance of the home to welcome Mahabali and joy itself. You could hear the soft beats of the thiruvathira dance being practiced nearby, while you welcome the scents of dishes being prepared for the Onasadya, the grand feast. 

The culmination of the festival is Onasadya, a traditional banquet of more than 20 plant-based dishes served on banana leaves. Every dish is symbolic, designed to engage all six tastes—sweet, sour, salty, bitter, pungent and astringent. It's a celebration of nourishment, Ayurveda and togetherness.

Even now, no matter where I am in the world, I pause during Onam to create a simple version of the feast usually with a prayer, a coconut and cardamom infused dessert and a soft nod to my ancestors. 

Key Onam Rituals Include: 

Pookalam: Floral mandalas created in geometric beauty, inviting joy and prosperity.

Onam Sadya: A 26+ dish feast served on banana leaves, honoring all six tastes—sweet, salty, bitter, sour, pungent and astringent. 

Vallam Kalli: Thrilling boat races on the backwaters of Kerala. 

Thiruvathira Dance: Traditional women’s dance performed in elegant cream saris with golden borders. 

A Festival Rooted in Agriculture and Astrology 

The date of Onam shifts each year, as it is astrologically determined by the Malayalam calendar. It falls during the month of Chingam (August–September), coinciding with Nakshatra Thiruvonam, an auspicious star marking the arrival of the bountiful harvest. In a place like Kerala, where rice paddies ripple across the land and jackfruit trees bow with fruit, the connection between nature and spirit is everything. 

Traditionally an agricultural society, Onam is Kerala’s way of giving thanks to the Earth. The festival celebrates the labor that has gone into the soil, the monsoon that has nourished it, and the fruits it now offers in return. It’s a beautiful ritual for letting go of old energy and welcoming in a more grounded, joyful state. 

In 2025, Onam begins on Tuesday August 26th, with Thiruvonam Day the main day of celebration falling on September 5th. 

A Kerala Tradition Meets Modern Wellness 

Living in New York now, I notice how autumn arrives with a quiet intensity, leaves turning gold, the air growing crisp. It reminds me that everything is cyclical. Onam teaches us that beginnings follow endings and in every harvest, there is also hope. This festival is more than just cultural, it’s a sensory reset, an invitation to reconnect. And while I may not be in Kerala, I mark Onam by lighting a Nilavilaku (brass oil lamp), preparing a small sadya inspired meal and offering gratitude for the people, plants and purpose that guide my days. 

As our lives grow increasingly fast-paced, traditions like Onam remind us to return to rhythm, to eat seasonally, to celebrate community and to find ritual in the everyday. 

Why You Should Celebrate Onam, Wherever You Are 

Come Back to Ritual… Onam is not just for those of us born into it. Its essence, gratitude, renewal, beauty, connection—is something we can all welcome into our lives. 

Why not celebrate? Light a candle. Arrange a few petals. Wear something that makes you feel radiant. Make a meal from the heart. Take a moment to thank the Earth. These rituals are ancient because they work. 

                                                                               Love + Light,