When is Onam 2025: Know Thiruvonam date, timings, and more about this Kerala festival

Onam is observed in the Chingam month on the Malayalam solar calendar, which usually corresponds to between August and September in the Gregorian calendar.

The festive celebrations of Onam commence on Atham day (the day when Atham Nakshatra prevails) and continue for 10 days until the last day, called Thiruvonam, the main day.

This year, Onam festivities will begin on August 26, 2025, and will conclude with Thiruvonam falling on Friday, September 5, 2025.

According to drikpanchang.com, Thiruvonam Nakshathram will begin on September 4, at 11:44 PM, and conclude on September 5 at 11:38 PM.

KNOW | Diwali 2025 Date: When is Diwali In 2025?

They celebrate the festival by deep cleaning their homes, taking early morning baths, decorating their homes with flowers, creating Pookalam (colourful patterns) outside their homes, and eating Onam Sandhya, a feast prepared with the help of all family members and traditionally eaten with hands.

Sadhya translates to “banquet” in Malayalam, is a lavish spread of nine courses (Source: Getty Images)

Households in the southern state make a variety of banana chips, a popular Kerala dish, to serve during the feast. Family members exchange gifts of ‘onakkodi’ (new clothes), and in their home’s courtyards, a swing is hung from a high limb of a tree and decked with ‘oonjal’ flowers.

READ | Did you know there's a traditional way to serve and eat the Onam sadya?

1. 01

   What is Onam festival all about?

   Onam is one of the most significant harvest festivals of Kerala, celebrated with great enthusiasm and cultural pride. It marks the appearance of the Vamana avatar of Vishnu, and subsequently the homecoming of the King Mahabali.

    

2. 02

   Why is Onam celebrated?

   Onam is celebrated to honour the legendary King Mahabali, who is believed to visit Kerala every year during this time to bless his people. It also signifies the harvest season, symbolising abundance, prosperity, and unity.

3. 03

   When is Onam in 2025?

   In 2025, the 10-day celebration of Onam starts on Tuesday, August 26, with the main day of Onam, known as Thiruvonam, falling on September 5, which is a Friday.

4. 04

   Which state celebrates Onam Festival?

   Onam is primarily celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala. However, Malayali communities across India and abroad also observe the festival with equal joy and grandeur.

5. 05

   What is Onam Sadhya?

   Onam Sadhya is the grand traditional feast served on a banana leaf, usually consisting of more than 20–25 vegetarian dishes. It includes rice, sambar, avial, thoran, olan, rasam, payasam (dessert), and many other delicacies. The Sadhya is an integral part of Onam celebrations, symbolizing prosperity and community spirit.

From the homepage

Bar Council of India suspends lawyer for ‘throwing shoe’ at CJI Gavai: ‘Conduct inconsistent with court’s dignity’

On Ladakh after Wangchuk arrest, LG says normal, protesting groups disagree

Dalit man lynched over ‘drone chor’ rumours in UP’s Raebareli; Cong slams ‘jungle raj’ under Yogi govt