You must be eagerly waiting for this year’s Onam 2025, right? Onam, Kerala’s most celebrated harvest festival, known as the “festival of flowers and feasts”, is always a matter of cultural pride rather than just a festival for Malayalees. The ten-day festival turns into a remarkable one every year in Kerala with its colours, music, food, and dance. Even the Malayali communities across the world celebrate Onam with the same warmth.
They come together to cook the Onam Sadya, design Athapookalam, and share memories of home. The festival connects generations to Kerala’s heritage and traditions that have stood the test of time. This Onam, why don’t we make a meaningful addition to the celebrations? With Maveli, the Spirit of Onam, a handcrafted keepsake that honours King Mahabali, symbolising King Mahabali’s return and Kerala’s timeless story of prosperity and unity.
King Mahabali, or Maveli, is the soul of the Onam festival. The King Mahabali story is by heart of every Keralite, and the story goes like this: King Mahabali is remembered as one of Kerala’s most just and beloved rulers. And his reign was the golden era of Kerala, where people lived in peace, equality, and prosperity.
Despite being a demon king, he was adored by his people so much that the gods themselves grew envious of his growing influence. To maintain the balance, the gods asked Lord Vishnu to appear as Vamana, a small Brahmin boy, in front of Mahabali, who was doing yagna for Lord Vishnu’s grace, afraid of losing their power.
Upon seeing the poor Brahmin boy, he asked what he desired, and he responded with land which could be covered in three steps. The generous king granted his wish. But then Vamana grew into cosmic size, and in two steps, he covered heaven and earth, leaving no land for the third step. Realising he was no ordinary boy and Lord Vishnu himself, the King bowed before Vamana, offering his head for the next step.
Satisfied with the king's devotion, Lord Vishnu blessed Mahabali and sent him to Pathala, the netherworld, granting permission to visit his people once every year. Malayalis celebrate this visit as Onam, a joyful homecoming of their king. Maveli, the spirit of Onam, embodies this Onam legend and reminds us of Mahabali’s promise to return and his everlasting bond with his people.
The ten days of Onam, from Atham to Thiruvonam, each day has its own charm, marked by pookalam, feasts, and rituals, which reflect Kerala’s rich culture and festive spirit. Here are the ten days you should know about:
The festival begins with the first floral Pookalam. Yellow flowers form the base design.
More flowers are added to the Pookalam. Houses are cleaned for the celebrations.
Shopping for new clothes, household items, and festival supplies begins.
Markets bustle with activity as households stock up on provisions for Onam.
The famous snake boat races (Vallamkali) are held, symbolizing teamwork and energy.
Families visit relatives, and feasts are enjoyed on banana leaves.
Pulikali (tiger dance) fills the streets with music, drums, and painted performers.
Idols of clay are placed in the Pookalam, honoring traditions of growth and devotion.
Known as the first Onam, homes are filled with food preparations and last-minute shopping.
The grand day of Onam with Sadhya feast, cultural programs, and honoring King Mahabali.
The charm of Onam is all about its rituals and vibrant traditions that bring everyone together. And each of the rituals has deep meaning. Here are some of them:
Athapookalam, or the floral carpets that adorn the home entrances, are a typical scene on Onam days. Starting from Attham, every day to Thiruvonam day, families use flowers like thumba, tusli, jamanthi, and chemarathy for pookalam designs. It is considered auspicious and made to welcome King Mahabali. In many places, friendly competitions are conducted that embody creativity and unity.
Another iconic element of Onam celebrations is Sadya, a lavish vegetarian meal that stretches across banana leaves, with over 20 dishes. From tangy sambar and creamy olan to crunchy chips and sweet payasam, each item holds significance. More than just food, Sadya symbolises abundance, gratitude, and happiness. Here are the dishes and their symbolism:
| Onam Dishes | Symbolism | Key Ingredients |
|---|---|---|
| Avial | Unity in diversity (many vegetables blended) | Mixed vegetables, coconut, yogurt |
| Sambar | Nourishment & prosperity | Lentils, tamarind, and vegetables |
| Olan | Purity & simplicity | Ash gourd, cowpeas, coconut milk |
| Kalan | Strength & balance | Raw banana, yam, yogurt, coconut |
| Erissery | Prosperity & fulfillment | Pumpkin, cowpeas, coconut |
| Thoran | Everyday joy & abundance | Cabbage/beans, coconut, spices |
| Pachadi | Sweet-sour balance of life | Pineapple/cucumber, yogurt, coconut |
| Kootu Curry | Unity through flavors | Yam, black chana, coconut |
| Inji Curry | Spice of life (sharp, tangy kick) | Tamarind, ginger, jaggery |
| Payasam | Sweetness & joy of celebration | Rice, jaggery, milk/coconut milk |
Whole villages come together for the exhilarating Vallam Kali boat races through Kerala's backwaters. In time with drumbeats, teams row, signifying energy and teamwork.
Cultural art forms give the celebrations a unique flavour. While the elegant Kaikottikali (clap dance) performed by women highlights Kerala's rich tradition, the Pulikali (tiger dance) lights up the streets with colour and laughter.
Together, these customs represent the unity, joy, and shared prosperity that define Onam culture.
Modern-day Onam celebrations are now blended with our modern life, even though they're still rooted in Kerala's culture. It is always grand as ever with the streets, malls, and government offices adorned with decorations and cultural programmes being broadcast on television and digital platforms. Many households are now blending the old customs with the conveniences of today, like ordering Sadya meals online, using eco-friendly floral substitutes for pookalams, and sharing greetings through social media.
Schools and offices also celebrate the festival, creating a shared sense of cultural pride. As the Malayali diaspora grows, Onam has expanded beyond Kerala’s borders. Malayali communities outside of Kerala celebrate the Onam festival in their own way, holding pookalam competitions, cultural dances, and Sadya feasts in community halls to bring the spirit of home with them.
The gifting culture has also evolved, with people choosing meaningful items that combine tradition with modern appeal, such as the curated Onam hampers, e-gifts, and cultural collectibles. That’s why Maveli, the Spirit of Onam by MemoryTrain, makes the perfect choice, an Onam keepsake you will love to display at home or share as a thoughtful gift with family and friends.
The whole essence of Onam lies in our beloved King Mahabali, right? That’s why we, MemoryTrain, chose to honour this legend with our handcrafted Maveli figurine, an Onam keepsake representing Mahabali’s presence during the festival. More than a decor item, it is a meaningful way to capture that presence. It is a symbol of tradition, a cultural collectible, and a meaningful Onam gift idea that can help you keep the Onam spirit alive each year, keeping the story of Mahabali alive for future generations.
Maveli, the Spirit of Onam, can make your moments more special, and it stands as a meaningful and thoughtful Onam decor or Onam gift. This item can be a centrepiece for your pookalam, an eye-catching part of your Sadya table, or a thoughtful Onam gift for family and friends. It also helps to keep the legend alive for children and future generations, making learning fun for them. And Maveli, the Spirit of Onam, is a cultural collectible with deep emotional and cultural significance that works well for Onam decorations or as a keepsake, helping to keep the spirit of Onam alive each year and beyond the ten-day tradition.
This year, 2025, let’s prepare for Onam and celebrate our Onam memories, togetherness, and eternal bond with Kerala culture and traditions, and King Mahabali by keeping its essence alive year-round with our Maveli, the Spirit of Onam product. While Onam traditions remain timeless, let the occasion be not just a celebration but a reminder of unity, joy, and cultural pride.
Onam 2025 date falls between August and September, following the Malayalam month of Chingam. The main day, Thiruvonam, will be celebrated on September 5, 2025, with festivities lasting ten days.
We celebrate Onam to honour King Mahabali, a legendary ruler known for his fair and prosperous reign. According to legend, Mahabali visits his people once a year. Onam marks his homecoming. It is also Kerala’s harvest festival, celebrating abundance and gratitude.
The Onam meaning comes from the story of Mahabali, who was beloved for his golden rule. Lord Vishnu, in his Vamana avatar, sent Mahabali to the netherworld but granted him the boon of returning once every year. Onam symbolises this reunion between the king and his people.
The Onam Sadya is a lavish vegetarian meal that typically consists of over 20 dishes and is served on banana leaves. The symbolic meaning of each dish is joy, unity, and prosperity. Beyond the food, it represents abundance and a spirit of sharing.
Malayalis living abroad celebrate Onam by organising community festivals featuring Sadya, cultural dances, and pookalam competitions. Families also connect online, exchange digital greetings, and organise gatherings at schools and offices, all of which contribute to the global spread of the Onam festival.
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