Onam in Kerala: Dates, Sadya, Boat Races & Tips

Quick answer

Onam is Kerala's ten-day harvest festival in the Malayalam month of Chingam, which falls in August or September and ends on Thiruvonam. For visitors, the highlights are the Onasadya feast on a banana leaf, pookalam flower carpets, Pulikali tiger dancers in Thrissur and snake-boat races on the backwaters. Book houseboats and hotels six to eight weeks ahead.

Highlights

Onasadya, a vegetarian feast of 20-plus dishes on a banana leaf
Pookalam flower carpets outside homes, offices and temples
Pulikali tiger dancers in Thrissur
Snake-boat races such as the Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali
Athachamayam procession at Thrippunithura that opens the festival

What actually happens during Onam

Onam welcomes home the legendary King Mahabali, and Kerala celebrates it across religions. The ten days run from Atham to Thiruvonam. On Atham, the Athachamayam procession at Thrippunithura near Kochi opens the festival, and families begin a pookalam, a flower carpet that grows each day. New clothes are bought, women perform Thiruvathira kali, and the state government runs Onam Week in Thiruvananthapuram with illuminations, concerts and a closing procession.

The heart of it is the Onasadya, a vegetarian feast of 20 or more dishes, including avial, olan, kalan, sambar, pachadi and two or three payasams, served on a banana leaf. Restaurants and hotels serve sadya through the season for about ₹400–1,500 a plate; book a day ahead. When you finish, folding the leaf towards you signals you enjoyed it.

The best days to go

Uthradom, the eve, and Thiruvonam are the main days, but Thiruvonam is a family day and many shops close. In Thrissur, the Pulikali tiger dancers parade on Nalam Onam, two days after Thiruvonam. Snake-boat races cluster around Onam, with the Aranmula race on the Pampa river a highlight.

Where to stay and how early to book

Onam is a domestic peak, with Keralites at home and Gulf families visiting. Houseboats in Alappuzha cost about ₹9,000–15,000 a night for a couple, and mid-range Kochi hotels ₹4,000–8,000. Book six to eight weeks ahead. A five-night Kerala trip starts around ₹19,000 per person, land only.

Weather, crowds and etiquette

The south-west monsoon is easing but August can still bring heavy showers; September is drier. Temperatures sit around 29–30°C. Boat-race banks get packed, so reach early and keep away from the water's edge. Ask before photographing a family's pookalam, and do not step on it.

What to wear

Kerala dresses up for Onam in off-white and gold kasavu sarees and mundus; visitors who join in are warmly received. Otherwise, light cotton, an umbrella and sandals that cope with rain.

Combining it

Add Munnar's tea hills, at their greenest after the rains, and a houseboat night in Alleppey. See the best time to visit Kerala, things to do in Kerala, where to stay in Alleppey and our September ideas.

Frequently asked questions

When is Onam celebrated?

Onam falls in Chingam, the first month of the Malayalam calendar, which overlaps August and September. The festival runs ten days from Atham to Thiruvonam, the main day. The Kerala government publishes Onam holiday dates at the start of each year, so you can plan ahead.

Can tourists eat an Onam Sadya?

Yes. Hotels and restaurants across Kerala serve Onam sadya through the season, usually for ₹400–1,500 a plate, and many take bookings a day or two ahead. The meal is entirely vegetarian; Jain travellers should ask about onion and garlic in specific dishes.

Where can I see a snake-boat race during Onam?

The Aranmula Uthrattathi Vallamkali on the Pampa river is the best-known race tied to Onam, and several smaller races run on the Alappuzha backwaters in the same weeks. The Nehru Trophy race is held separately in August. Check Kerala Tourism's calendar for confirmed dates.

Is Onam a good time to visit Kerala given the monsoon?

It is a good time if you accept some rain. The landscape is at its greenest, the festival atmosphere is high, and the monsoon months are traditionally preferred for Ayurveda treatments. Expect showers, especially in August, and plan flexible days for the hills.

How we checked this page

Last reviewed 28 October 2026

Written and fact-checked by the Elitech Travels editorial desk in New Delhi, drawing on our consultants' day-to-day booking work and the official sources below. Rules, fares and fees change — always confirm anything critical with the issuing authority before you travel. Our editorial policy.