Do you know why Kerala looks extra bright and colourful in the month of Chingam (August-September)? It’s because everyone is celebrating Onam, the most joyful festival of the state!
The Story of King Mahabali
A long time ago, Kerala had a kind and generous king named Mahabali. People loved him so much because he made sure everyone was happy and had enough to eat. The gods wanted to test his goodness, so Lord Vishnu came as a little boy, Vamana, and asked for three tiny steps of land. With his magical steps, Vamana sent King Mahabali to the underworld. But because Mahabali loved his people, he was allowed to visit Kerala once every year. That day of happiness is celebrated as Onam!
💡 If King Mahabali visited your home today, what sweet would you give him?
Thiruvathirakali – The Special Dance
During Onam, women dress up in beautiful white and gold sarees and dance in circles, clapping their hands and moving gracefully. This dance is called Thiruvathirakali. It looks like a flower swaying in the breeze!
💡 Can you try clapping in rhythm with your friends and pretending to dance like the Onam ladies?
The Onam Sadya -A Feast on a Banana Leaf
What’s a festival without food? Onam has a grand meal called Sadya, served on banana leaves. It has so many yummy dishes – avial, sambar, olan, payasam, and much more. Sometimes there are over 20 items on a single leaf!
💡 Imagine you’re making your own Sadya plate – what’s the first dish you would add?
Pookalam – Flowers on the Ground
Children and families decorate the ground with flower rangolis called Pookalam. Every day, fresh flowers are added, and by the last day, the designs look like big, colourful carpets made of petals.
💡 If you could make a pookalam, which 3 colours of flowers would you choose first?
Vallam Kali – The Snake Boat Race
One of the most thrilling parts of Onam is the Vallam Kali, or snake boat race. Long wooden boats shaped like snakes race across Kerala’s backwaters, with more than 100 rowers paddling in perfect rhythm. People sing loudly to encourage the teams, and the whole atmosphere is full of energy!
💡 Can you imagine trying to row in rhythm with 100 people? How loud would your song need to be?
Onam Away From Home
Kerala’s Onam spirit doesn’t stay only in Kerala! Malayali families living in cities across India – and even in countries like the UAE, Singapore, and the USA – come together every year to celebrate. Community halls become mini Kerala for a day, with Sadya feasts cooked together, Pookalam competitions for kids, and sometimes even small boat race games played just for fun. Wherever they are in the world, the joy of Onam travels with them.
💡 If your family celebrated Onam far from Kerala, what part of the festival would you miss making the most?
Make Payasam at Home
No Onam Sadya feels complete without payasam – Kerala’s rich, sweet dessert made with milk, jaggery, and rice or vermicelli.
What You’ll Need
- 1/4 cup rice or thin vermicelli
- 3 cups milk
- 1/2 cup jaggery, grated
- A pinch of cardamom powder
- A few cashews and raisins
- 1 tbsp ghee
Steps
Step 1: Roast the cashews and raisins. Heat the ghee and lightly fry them until golden. Set aside.
Step 2: Cook the rice or vermicelli in milk. Simmer gently, stirring often, until soft and the milk begins to thicken.
Step 3: Add the jaggery and cardamom. Stir well until the jaggery melts completely into the milk.
Step 4: Top and serve. Sprinkle the roasted cashews and raisins on top. Serve warm.
Did You Know?
- The longest snake boat can carry up to 150 people – that’s like filling three classrooms into one boat!
- Some families in Kerala make tiny pookalams at home just for fun, while the big ones are made in schools, temples, and competitions.
- The dessert payasam is such a favourite during Onam that kids sometimes sneak extra helpings!
Fun Activity – Make Your Own Pookalam
You don’t need a garden full of flowers to try this – coloured paper or even chalk works beautifully too!
Steps
- Draw a big circle on paper, cardboard, or the ground with chalk
- Divide it into rings, like a target
- Fill each ring with a different colour – if using paper, tear small pieces and glue them in; if using real petals, gently place them ring by ring
- Start from the outer ring and work your way to the center
💡 If you could make a pookalam, which 3 colours of flowers would you choose first?
Want to print and colour a a pookalam? Download your free colouring page here
A Closing Thought
Onam is a festival of colours, dances, boat races, feasts, and happy memories. But most of all, it’s about sharing, caring, and celebrating together – just the way King Mahabali would have wanted!