Culminating with Thiruvonam, which falls today, this 10-day harvest festival intertwined with Hindu mythology is cherished by the Malayalee community.
During the Onam festival, each household showcases its own pookalam, a floral masterpiece that adorns doorsteps.
Onam is Kerala’s rice harvest festival, but it extends beyond harvest festivities. Its origins intertwine with the Hindu mythology of Mahabali, which celebrates the return of the benevolent demon king to his beloved Kerala. Mahabali then offered his own head to Vishnu before he could take the third step. Moved by the demon king’s humility, Vishnu blessed Mahabali and sent him to Pathala, or the netherworld, with permission to visit his subjects once every year.
As with most Malaysian festivals, food lies at the heart of Onam festivities. On Thiruvanam, families prepare and enjoy Onam Sadhya, the opulent Onam feast. Then there’s the grand finale: “ada pradhaman payasam”, a velvety dessert made with rice flakes, jaggery, and coconut milk, epitomising the sweetness of the festival.
Men wear the traditional mundu, resembling a waist-worn sarong, again characterised by plain white cotton cloth with a gold border.