Pluralist Onam: Celebrating Kerala's vibrant religious yet multicultural harvest festival

Onam, Kerala’s cherished harvest festival, brings communities together in a vibrant celebration of faith, culture, and gratitude. Held annually in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September), this 10-day festival honours the legendary King Mahabali and Lord Vishnu’s Vamana avatar.

From intricate floral designs to sumptuous feasts, Onam showcases Kerala’s rich heritage, captivating locals and the global Malayali diaspora. Here’s an in-depth look at the festival’s significance, traditions and international reach.

Sacred narrative of Onam

At the heart of Onam is the story of Mahabali, a benevolent Asura king whose reign brought prosperity and equality. Hindu scriptures, such as the Bhagavata Purana, recount how Mahabali’s growing power concerned the Devas (gods). Lord Vishnu, in his Vamana avatar—a humble dwarf Brahmin—approached Mahabali during a grand ritual, requesting three paces of land. When granted, Vamana expanded to cosmic proportions, covering the earth and heavens in two steps. With no space left for the third, Mahabali offered his head in devotion. Impressed by his humility, Vishnu granted Mahabali the boon to visit his people annually—an event celebrated as Onam.

Some interpretations view the story as a symbol of the rice harvest, with Mahabali representing a thanksgiving offering and Vishnu embodying the sun of Kerala. Another legend ties Onam to Parashurama, Vishnu’s sixth avatar, who is said to have created Kerala by reclaiming land from the sea. This raises questions about Mahabali’s connection to Kerala, as his story may originate from the Narmada River region, possibly brought to Kerala through Brahmin migrations.

Historical roots of Onam

Onam’s origins trace back to ancient South India. The 3rd-century Tamil poem Maturaikkāñci describes a Vishnu-centric festival in Madurai, with rituals that resemble those of Onam. By the 8th century, the Alvar saint Nammalvar referenced Vishnu’s Trivikrama form, while 9th-century texts by Periyalvar document Onam-like celebrations with feasts and offerings.

Inscriptions from Kerala’s Thrikkakara and Tiruvalla temples, from the 11th and 12th centuries, confirm the festival’s religious significance, particularly at Thrikkakara, dedicated to Vamana.

Onam traditions: Cultural spectacle

Onam spans ten days, from Atham to Thiruvonam, marked by vibrant traditions:

• Pookkalam: Elaborate floral carpets adorn courtyards, welcoming Mahabali
• Onasadya: A nine-course vegetarian feast served on banana leaves, symbolising abundance
• Thrikkakara Appan: A clay pyramid representing Vamana or Mahabali, central to rituals.
• Cultural Performances: Dances like Thiruvathira Kali and Pulikali (tiger dance), alongside games like archery, enliven the festivities.
• Athachamayam: A grand procession with decorated elephants, starting in Thrippunithura and ending at Ernakulam’s Vamanamoorthy Temple.

The Thrikkakara Temple, meaning “place of the holy foot,” is a focal point, housing the deity of Vamana. A nearby Shiva temple, historically significant to locals, adds depth to the festival’s spiritual landscape.

#Onam does not merely comprise feasts and flowers, unlike what secularists would have you believe, but a celebration of faith and culture. Onam weaves the ancient with the modern. Beginning with its origins, here's a thread🧵with wishes for all on the #KeralaFestival 1/n pic.twitter.com/WgRWGoUqSk

— Surajit Dasgupta (@surajitdasgupta) September 5, 2025

Onam by Christians and Muslims

According to PS Salini, a research scholar in Islamic studies, most Muslims join the festivities with their friends and celebrate “Hindu festivals such as Onam”. According to a 2001 chapter by Filippo Osella and Caroline Osella, both Hindus and non-Hindus have celebrated Onam equally “as a time when the unity of the family and kin group is particularly emphasised”. In another 2008 paper, Osella and Osella state that “Muslims do not celebrate Onam” and the Muslims who do prepare an Onam feast have an air of a “daring secret”.

In a neo-liberal India, the festival has been increasingly re-positioned as a tourist event. It has also been subject to multiple political appropriations — But Christians like Ritty A Lukose note that a festival that has been culturally inclusive within the “secular lexicon” of Hinduism is being increasingly turned into an event of exclusivism by “Hindu nationalists”.

Onam is a cultural festival in Kerala that is celebrated by Hindus, Christians and Muslims alike, as it is seen as a symbol of unity, prosperity, and cultural identity, rather than a strictly religious event. While it has Hindu origins in the mythology of King Mahabali, the festival's significance has evolved into a pan-Kerala celebration of harvest, communal harmony, and cultural pride, encompassing traditions like floral carpets, feasts and artistic performances. The Syro-Malabar Church has even issued clarifications encouraging Christians to participate in Onam as a cultural festival. However, some Islamic and Christian groups have debated the extent of participation due to its religious roots. 

Onam marks the end of the monsoon and the beginning of autumn, making it a celebration of the harvest season, which is relevant to all communities. 

Onam is recognised as a cultural festival of Kerala, a shared identity that transcends religious boundaries. The festival symbolises togetherness, prosperity and harmony among all communities in the state, making it a unifying force. The traditions associated with the occasion, such as floral decorations, feasts and performances like the Pulikali dance, are seen as expressions of Kerala's cultural heritage, which people of all faiths embrace. 

While Onam is primarily a harvest and cultural festival, its origin story is rooted in Hindu mythology. The Syro-Malabar Church in Kerala clarified that Christian participation in the festival is permissible, as it should be viewed as embracing the state's cultural festival and a symbol of love and brotherhood, rather than as a religious ritual. 

Despite the clarifications, some sections of the Christian and Muslim communities have raised concerns, with a minority of Islamic scholars expressing objections and some groups calling for a more cautious approach to ensure the festival remains 'secular'.

Thankfully, Christian and Muslim masses at large haven't yet been in awe of their respective clerics, religious scholars and communally motivated intellectuals.

Onam beyond Kerala

Onam transcends Kerala, celebrated by Malayali communities worldwide, including in the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, the United States, and France (notably Paris and Marseille). These diaspora celebrations feature cultural events, feasts, and performances, preserving Kerala’s heritage globally.

Why Onam matters

Onam is more than a festival—it’s a celebration of unity, gratitude, and cultural pride. Its blend of sacred narratives, history, and traditions reflects Kerala’s unique identity. Whether through the communal Onasadya or global Pookkalam competitions, Onam fosters a sense of belonging, bridging past and present.

For more on Onam’s history and celebrations, read this exposition.