Onam brings together food, family, traditions, and community. For Malayalis around the world, the festival offers a chance to celebrate Kerala's culture while spending time with the people who matter most.
In 2026, Thiruvonam falls on 26 August, marking the most important day of the Onam celebrations. Kerala Tourism also lists Thiruvonam among the state's major traditional festivals, while celebrations and cultural events take place across Kerala during the season. For Malayali families living in Dubai and across the UAE, Onam can bring a little piece of Kerala into their homes.
From creating a colorful Pookalam to preparing an Onam Sadhya, there are plenty of ways to celebrate the festival while keeping its traditions alive.
So, what is Onam and why does it hold such an important place in Kerala's culture?
Onam is an annual festival associated with Kerala and its Malayali community. The festival combines harvest traditions with the story of King Mahabali, whose return people celebrate during Onam. The festival also connects with the Vamana tradition associated with Vishnu.
Onam celebrations traditionally include:
Pookalam, or floral decorations
Onam Sadhya
Traditional clothing
Cultural performances
Games and community activities
Boat races
Pulikali and other folk traditions
The celebrations begin with Atham and build towards Thiruvonam, the main day of the festival.
The story of Onam centers on King Mahabali, a legendary ruler remembered for his generosity and the prosperity of his kingdom. According to tradition, Mahabali's popularity and influence grew to such an extent that the gods became concerned. Vishnu appeared as Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin, and asked Mahabali for as much land as he could cover in three steps.
Mahabali agreed. Vamana then took his first two steps across the earth and heavens. With nowhere left for the third step, Mahabali offered his own head. The story connects his sacrifice to his return to Kerala each year, when Onam is celebrated.
For many Malayalis, the festival therefore represents more than a historical or religious story. It carries ideas of generosity, togetherness, prosperity, and welcoming loved ones home.
One of the most recognizable Onam traditions is the Pookalam, a colorful floral arrangement created on the floor. Families traditionally build the design using flowers and add to it throughout the festival. You can create a simple Pookalam at home in Dubai with fresh flowers from a local market or florist. If you're celebrating with children, let them choose the colors and help arrange the petals. It turns a traditional decoration into a family activity.
Onam celebrations often bring out Kerala's traditional clothing. Women may wear a Kerala saree or Kasavu saree, while men often choose a traditional mundu. Families can also coordinate their outfits for photographs, community events, or an Onam lunch.
Onam also brings people together through music, dance, games, and cultural performances. Traditional celebrations in Kerala include activities such as Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Thumbi Thullal, and tug of war. In Dubai, families and community groups can recreate that spirit through small gatherings, cultural programs, games, and shared meals.
Ask someone about Onam and food will probably come up quickly. Onam Sadhya, also known as Onasadya, is the traditional vegetarian feast associated with the festival. The meal is usually served on a banana leaf and brings together a wide variety of curries, vegetables, pickles, savories, and desserts. Sadhya can be described as a traditional vegetarian feast that can include up to around 28 dishes. A typical Onam Sadhya can include:
Rice
Parippu
Sambar
Avial
Thoran
Erissery
Olan
Kaalan
Pachadi
Kichadi
Rasam
Pickles
Banana chips
Pappadam
Payasam
Different families and regions have their own variations, so you do not need to prepare every dish to enjoy the tradition.
You have two straightforward options: prepare the meal at home or order a Sadhya from a restaurant or caterer. If you're cooking at home, plan your shopping several days in advance. Ingredients such as raw bananas, yam, ash gourd, coconut, curry leaves, lentils, rice, spices, and vegetables form an important part of many Sadhya dishes. The dishes include a variety of options such as aviyal, thoran, olan, erissery, kootu curry, and several varieties of payasam.
You can find Kerala and Indian grocery ingredients across several parts of Dubai. Depending on where you live, consider checking:
LuLu Hypermarket: Useful for vegetables, rice, lentils, coconut products, spices, and other everyday ingredients.
Nesto: A practical option for vegetables, pantry staples, and household grocery items.
Al Adil Supermarkets: Particularly useful when you need Indian grains, spices, flours, and other cooking ingredients.
Local Kerala and Indian grocery stores: Areas such as Karama, Bur Dubai, and Deira have numerous smaller shops where you can look for Kerala-specific ingredients, snacks, pickles, and other festive products.
Online grocery platforms: Useful when you want to compare stores or avoid a trip to the supermarket.
For a large Sadhya, you may need significantly more groceries than you normally buy. Think several kilograms of vegetables, rice, coconut products, lentils, spices, banana leaves, and other ingredients. That is where planning your transportation matters.
Your preferred supermarket might offer delivery, but you may also find yourself shopping from more than one location to find everything on your list. You may need ingredients from a supermarket, a specialty Kerala store, and another local shop.
If you have several heavy bags or bulky grocery items, carrying everything home while being busy preparing for the event can be difficult. Lalamove offers same-day delivery and can help when you need to move a larger grocery order. You can book a suitable vehicle for your load, arrange pickup from a store, and have the items delivered to your home.
Lalamove currently offers cars, SUVs, vans, 1-ton trucks, and 3-ton trucks in Dubai, with pricing shown before you confirm the booking. This can be particularly useful when you're:
Shopping for a large family Sadhya
Buying groceries from multiple stores
Purchasing bottled water and other heavy items
Preparing food for an Onam gathering
Buying flowers and other celebration supplies
Collecting a large catering order
For larger loads, Lalamove also offers 1-ton and 3-ton truck options, with an optional helper service for loading and unloading.
Onam brings together many of the things that make festivals memorable: a meaningful story, colorful traditions, great food, and time with family and friends. Whether you celebrate with a homemade Onam Sadhya, a Pookalam at home, or a larger community gathering, the festival gives Malayalis in Dubai a chance to stay connected with Kerala's culture while creating new memories in the UAE.
And if you need help with deliveries, simply download the Lalamove app on your phone, place your orders, and sit back and enjoy this prestigious occasion with your loved ones. Happy Onam to everyone from Lalamove!