Onam is the biggest festival in Kerala. People from all communities celebrate it, and the mood is always lively. The festival marks the homecoming of King Mahabali. He is remembered as a ruler who was fair and generous. Onam usually happens in August or September, in the Malayalam month of Chingam. The main day is Thiruvonam, which everyone looks forward to.
In the days before Onam, homes are cleaned and decorated. Pookalams, which are floral designs, appear at entrances and courtyards. Flowers, fruits, and festive items fill the markets. People buy new clothes, and streets get crowded. In villages, traditional dances like Thiruvathira take place. Pulikali, or the tiger dance, draws a lot of attention. Music, songs, and small cultural events add to the excitement.
Food is a huge part of Onam. Families prepare Onasadya, a vegetarian feast served on banana leaves. There is rice, sambar, many curries, and payasam, which is a sweet pudding. People eat together. Visiting relatives and neighbors is also common. Many exchange greetings and enjoy the meal together.
Boat races are another big attraction. Crowds gather along the rivers to watch. Some people also help those in need during the festival.
Onam is more than just colors, food, or dances. It is about family, tradition, and community. People come together. They celebrate joy, culture, and generosity. Every year, Onam reminds everyone to enjoy simple pleasures and be part of something bigger.
A major controversy erupted in Kerala following remarks by Islamic scholar and Samastha leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar regarding the role of women in society. Musliyar issued a clarification after facing severe criticism, stating that his organisation never advocated confining women or treating them as second-class citizens, noting that institutions under their management offer education to women. Earlier, Musliyar had asserted that women should primarily stay at home to preserve their dignity, as according to him, it was prescribed in the Holy Quran. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan strongly countered this perspective, asserting that women must participate across all spheres of life and citing Islamic history where women led armies, ruled kingdoms, and managed major businesses. The political controversy follows a Samastha circular urging curbs on women participating publicly in festival celebrations, triggering widespread debate on constitutional democracy, gender equality, and progressive values in the state.
A controversy has erupted in Kerala after the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama faction backed Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar over remarks restricting women to their homes. The clerical body defended the statements, asserting that clerics should not be belittled for religious declarations and that those who disagree must respect them. This development comes following a meeting between leaders of the Kanthapuram faction and Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. The leaders expressed their displeasure over the Chief Minister's strong rebuttal, in which he defended Muslim women's rights to participate in the mainstream and cited examples of prominent women from Islamic history. The Samastha leadership raised objections, stating the Chief Minister misinterpreted Islamic history and created an impression that religious scholars were unaware of their own faith. The cleric's earlier circular and comments advising women against public appearances continue to trigger significant political debate across the state.
Onam celebrations highlight the rich cultural traditions of Kerala, uniting people across different faiths in festivity. According to legend, the festival marks the annual return of the beloved Asura King Mahabali to visit his people, after being granted a wish by Lord Vishnu in his Vamana avatar. Festivities across the country include vibrant flower arrangements known as pookalams, traditional sadya feasts, and colorful competitions. Beyond religious boundaries, Onam serves as a cultural celebration of harmony, togetherness, and cherished memories. India Today invites viewers to join the nationwide festivities and celebrate Onam.
Addressing the issue of airfares, the speaker stated that there has been a "decrease... up to 43% in relative terms" when compared with the consumer price index. The speaker highlighted that capacity augmentation is the "real solution" to price surges during festivals like Diwali and Onam. On the topic of aviation fuel, the speaker noted that while some states have reduced taxes, others need to follow suit, citing Bihar's reduction to below 4%. The speaker also praised the UDAN scheme, noting that it will be "expanded for 10 more years" to cover 120 new destinations. Furthermore, the speaker revealed plans for "made-in-India aircraft" through potential collaborations with manufacturers like Embraer.
Days after the bonhomie between Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin, President Donald Trump said on Friday it looks like the US has lost India and Russia to "darkest" China.
In this episode of 5Live, the focus is on a controversy in Maharashtra involving Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and a viral video.
Kerala is celebrating Onam, the 10-day harvest festival commemorating the mythical King Mahabali. The celebration is back in its full glory after being called off last year due to the Wayanad landslide.
Kerala’s backwaters turned into a spectacle as snake boats raced in the traditional Vallam Kali.
Kerala police have filed a case against Khadija, a teacher at Sirajul Uloom English High School in Thrissur’s Kadavallur, after she allegedly circulated a voice note urging Muslim students to avoid participating in Onam celebrations.
Two teachers at the Sirajul Uloom English School in Kerala have been suspended following a controversy over audio messages sent to parents. In the voice notes, the teachers urged Muslim students to shun Onam celebrations, describing the harvest festival as 'un-Islamic'. One teacher, Khadija, against whom a police case has been filed, can be heard advising parents that children should not participate because it can lead to 'shirk,' the sin of believing in more than one god. The school management has distanced itself from the incident, calling it the teachers' personal opinion and confirming that its official Onam celebrations will proceed as planned. The complaint was filed by the DYFI, the youth wing of the CPIM, leading to a police investigation into the divisive remarks which have caused an uproar.
Modi government's big Onam gift for households as it slashed the price of LPG cylinders for domestic by Rs 200 per cylinder for all users.
Keralites across the world are celebrating Onam with beautiful pookalams adorning every home and sumptuous Onam Sadya.
Kerala's Education Minister, V Sivankutty, revealed that the revised school curriculum for the state will incorporate the previously omitted content from the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This updated curriculum is scheduled to be introduced in educational institutions following the Onam break in September. Last year, the NCERT conducted a "syllabus rationalization" initiative, resulting in the removal of specific sections, such as lessons on the Gujarat riots, Mughal courts, the Emergency, Cold War, and the Naxalite movement. The NCERT attributed its decision to factors like "overlapping" and "irrelevance" of these portions.
This auto driver from Kerala won the Rs 25 crore Onam bumper lottery. Surprisingly, this happened only a day after his application for a loan of Rs 3 lakh was approved. Watch this to know more.
Onam was celebrated with pomp and gaiety in Kerala on Thursday after its celebration in the last two years were marred by the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions.
Unlike the festivals of India, Onam has unique story behind it. It is the story of a generous Asura King who was everyone's favourite. In this episode of Unfiltered we tell you all about Onam and its history. Watch this video to know more.
