Festival companion · Sunday 12 September 2027

Onam

Kerala's harvest homecoming. Everything for one festival in one place: the story to tell, the puja, a recipe, a craft for children and a shopping list.

Tell the story

The Story of Onam

Mahabali was a generous asura king under whom Kerala was happy and equal. The gods worried about his growing power, and Vishnu came to him as Vamana, a small boy, asking for three steps of land.

Mahabali agreed. Vamana grew enormous, covering the earth and sky in two steps, and Mahabali offered his own head for the third. Moved by his devotion, Vishnu allowed him to visit his people once a year.

Onam is the homecoming of Mahabali, and Keralites make their homes as beautiful as they were in his time.

How families celebrate

Ten days welcoming the legendary King Mahabali, whose return is celebrated with flower carpets, grand vegetarian feasts served on banana leaves, snake-boat races and dances.

Pookalam flower carpets, the Onam sadya on a banana leaf, new clothes (onakodi) and the Thiruvathira dance.

At home

The Puja

A simple home puja anyone can follow, plus the full vidhi with Sanskrit mantras.

A printable puja guide for this festival is on its way.

Cook together

Semiya Payasam

More recipes →
All India · Onam, birthdays, Annaprashana

Semiya Payasam

Vermicelli kheer: shavige payasa in Kannada, semiya payasam in Tamil and Malayalam, seviyan kheer in the north

  • 25 min
  • Serves 4
Ingredients and method

Ingredients

  • ½ cup thin vermicelli
  • 1 litre milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 2 tbsp ghee
  • Cashews, raisins, cardamom, saffron

Method

  1. Fry cashews and raisins in ghee and set aside.
  2. Roast the vermicelli in the same ghee until golden.
  3. Add milk and simmer until soft, 10 minutes.
  4. Add sugar, cardamom and saffron, then the nuts.

For Annaprashana, cook plain rice in milk instead, and blend it smooth for the baby.

For children

Make a pookalam

You need

  • Flower petals in many colours
  • Chalk to draw the outline
  • Leaves for green
  • A small lamp for the centre

Steps

  1. Draw a circle and divide it into rings and petals with chalk.
  2. Fill from the centre outwards with one colour per section.
  3. Add a new ring each of the ten days.
  4. Place a lamp in the middle on Thiruvonam.

Get ready

Shopping List

Tick things off as you go, or print the list for the Indian store.

Shopping list

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