Onam 2026: Kerala’s biggest festival begins soon; check Thiruvonam date, Atham calendar and traditions

Onam 2026: When is Onam and Thiruvonam? Check the exact date, Atham to Thiruvonam 10-day festival calendar, Mahabali legend, Onam Sadya, pookkalam, Vallamkali, traditions, significance and Kerala celebrations.

New Delhi: Kerala is getting ready to welcome its most beloved festival, with the celebrations culminating in Thiruvonam on August 26. From the first Atham pookkalam to the grand Onam Sadya, here is everything you need to know about the festival’s dates, traditions and the legend of King Mahabali.

There are festivals that mark a date on the calendar, and then there is Onam, which seems to transform an entire state. As August gives way to the festive season in Kerala, courtyards begin filling with flowers, kitchens prepare for an elaborate vegetarian feast, traditional songs and dances return to the streets, and the familiar image of King Mahabali takes centre stage. In 2026, the 10-day Onam celebrations will begin with Atham on August 16 and culminate with Thiruvonam, the most important day of the festival, on Wednesday, August 26. The dates are also reflected in the Kerala government’s official 2026 holiday calendar.

Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam, will be celebrated on Wednesday, August 26, 2026.

The celebrations traditionally begin on Atham, the first of the 10 Onam days, which falls on August 16, 2026. The festival therefore runs through a sequence of 10 days, ending with Thiruvonam on August 26. Kerala Tourism describes Onam as a 10-day........

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