Onam
Kerala's biggest festival — a 10-day harvest celebration featuring elaborate flower carpets, the Vallam Kali snake boat races, and traditional Onam feasts.
Onam
Onam is Kerala's most significant festival, a 10-day harvest celebration marking the mythical return of King Mahabali. Homes are decorated with elaborate flower carpets (pookalam), renewed and expanded daily through the festival, and the celebration culminates in a grand traditional feast served on banana leaves.
For visitors, the Vallam Kali snake boat races are the festival's most spectacular public event — long, narrow boats crewed by dozens of rowers race along Kerala's backwaters, accompanied by drumming and singing crowds along the banks.
Where
Kerala
When
August or September (10-day festival, exact dates shift yearly)
What to Expect
Pookalam Flower Carpets
Intricate flower carpets laid at doorsteps and courtyards, growing more elaborate each day through the ten-day festival.
Vallam Kali Snake Boat Races
Dramatic races between long traditional boats, each crewed by dozens of rowers, along Kerala's backwaters.
The Onam Sadhya Feast
A traditional multi-course vegetarian feast served on a banana leaf, considered one of Kerala's great culinary traditions.
Ten Days of Celebration
Unlike single-day festivals, Onam builds over ten days, giving visitors flexibility in when to experience it.
Common Questions
Everything international travellers ask before planning a trip around this festival.
Can't find your answer? Our team responds within 2 hours on WhatsApp and within 12 hours by email.
Not necessarily — since it runs ten days, you have more flexibility than with single-day festivals, and Kerala's backwaters and hill stations are worth visiting regardless of festival timing.
The Nehru Trophy Boat Race at Alappuzha (Alleppey) is the most famous, though several backwater towns hold their own races during the festival period.
Yes — many hotels and restaurants across Kerala serve a traditional Onam Sadhya during the festival period, and it's well worth experiencing.
Start Your Journey
Time Your Trip Around Onam.
When Will You Go?
Tell us your travel window and we'll build an itinerary around the festival, usually with a reply within 24 hours.