How is Onam celebrated?

The legend, drawn from the Bhagavata Purana, is among the most beautiful in Hindu mythology. Mahabali — grandson of Prahlada and a great Asura king — ruled Kerala with such justice and generosity that his kingdom became a paradise. Concerned by his power, the gods asked Lord Vishnu to intervene. Vishnu took the form of Vamana, a small brahmin boy, and approached Mahabali asking for three paces of land. The king agreed; Vamana grew to cosmic size and covered the heavens with one step and the earth with another. With nowhere left for the third step, Mahabali — true to his word — offered his own

What seva is auspicious on Onam?

Gau Seva on Onam honours the same generosity and welcoming spirit Mahabali embodied. The cow — Gaumata — is, like Onam itself, a symbol of abundance, nourishment, and unconditional giving. Offering fresh grass, jaggery, or palak to a cow on Thiruvonam is a deeply Keralan act of care: the King of Kerala visits the land, and the householder honours him by feeding the most sacred guest of all.

Festival Seva · 2026

Onam

Q: Onam 2026 kab hai?

Onam 2026 26 August 2026 ko hai. The 10-day Malayalam harvest festival — King Mahabali returns to bless his beloved Kerala

ओणम

26 August 2026

“The 10-day Malayalam harvest festival — King Mahabali returns to bless his beloved Kerala”

92days

20hrs

38min

Perform Onam Gau Seva →

Onam — when is it where you are?

This festival follows the Hindu Tithi (lunar day), calculated from local sunrise. A festival can fall on a different calendar date depending on where you are. Below are calendar dates in major diaspora markets.

Your local time

Tuesday, 25 August 2026

America/New_York

USA (Eastern)25 Aug 2026
USA (Pacific)25 Aug 2026
UK (London)26 Aug 2026
Canada (Toronto)25 Aug 2026
UAE (Dubai)26 Aug 2026
Singapore26 Aug 2026
Australia (Sydney)26 Aug 2026
India (IST)26 Aug 2026

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Significance of Onam

Onam (ഓണം · ओणम) is the 10-day harvest festival of Kerala — the largest and most beloved festival in the Malayalam calendar, celebrating the annual visit of King Mahabali (Maveli) to his ancient kingdom. It falls in the Malayalam month of Chingam (August–September), with the main day (Thiruvonam) on the day the Thiruvonam nakshatra rises in Chingam. Across Kerala — and wherever Malayalis live — Onam is observed regardless of religion, caste, or community: it is at once the cultural anchor of Kerala and a deeply Vaishnava festival.