Onam is the biggest festival in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a harvest festival and is celebrate with joy and enthusiasm all over the state by the people of all communities. According to a popular legend, the festival is celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, whose spirit is said to visit Kerala at the time of Onam.
Onam festival falls during the beginning of the month of Chingam (Aug-Sep), the first month of Malayalam Calendar.
People strikingly decorate the ground in front of their houses with flower arranged in beautiful patterns (Pookalam) to welcome King Mahabali, from Attam (the first day of Onam) to Thiruonam(the tenth day of Onam).
Carnival of Onam lasts for ten days. It brings out the best of the Kerala culture and tradition. Intricately decorated Pookalam, ambrosial Onasadhya, breathtaking Snake Boat Race and exotic Kaikottikali dance are some of the most remarkable features of Onam – the harvest festival in Kerala.
The most impressive part of Onam celebrations is the grand feast called Onasadhya, prepared on Thiruonam. It is a multi-course vegetarian meal consisting of 15 to 20 essential dishes. Onasadya is served on banana leaves and people sit on a mat laid on the floor to have the meal.
Onam Sadhya Recipes include the following dishes in order of serving on the banana leaf:
SALT
PAPPADAM
RIPE BANANA
BOILED RICE