Drums, stripes and frenzy: Pulikkali set to light up Thrissur’s Onam climax 

Drums, stripes and frenzy: Pulikkali set to light up Thrissur’s Onam climax 

The wait of a year ends on Monday (September 8, 2025). As the afternoon sun dips, the rustic beats will shake the streets of Thrissur, ushering in one of Onam celebration’s most flamboyant and unmissable spectacles — Pulikkali. From nine corners of the city, more than 400 ‘tigers’ — their bodies painted in vivid stripes […]

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Kerala plans showcasing Onam festivities to international tourists

Kerala plans showcasing Onam festivities to international tourists

Tourists in traditional Kerala saree engage in a tug-of-war competition during Onam celebrations in the State. (File) | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT As part of its push to showcase Onam as a major festival on the global cultural tourism map, the Responsible Tourism Mission Society, Kerala, has launched an international Cultural Exchange Programme. The initiative […]

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Atham pageantry heralds Onam in Kerala with artistic fervour, social messages 

Atham pageantry heralds Onam in Kerala with artistic fervour, social messages 

Artistes perform during the ‘Athachamayam’ procession marking the beginning of the annual harvest festival of Onam at Thripunithura in Ernakulam, Kerala, on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: Thulasi Kakkat Thousands of people from far and wide, in a festive mood, braved the sweltering heat to witness the Athachamayam pageantry at Thripunithura in Ernakulam, Kerala, on Tuesday […]

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Drums, stripes and frenzy: Pulikkali set to light up Thrissur’s Onam climax 

Kerala Excise department launches drive to curb sale of illicit liquor, drug trafficking in Alappuzha during Onam

The Excise department of Kerala has launched a special drive to prevent the brewing and sale of illicit liquor and drug trafficking during the Onam festival in Alappuzha district. The drive, which began on Monday, will continue until September 10. As part of the drive, Excise enforcement squads will conduct inspections across the district. The […]

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Learn Malayalam online

Learn Malayalam online

Malayalam alphabet souvenirs | Photo Credit: THULASI KAKKAT Boat races of Kerala, known as vallamkali is a thrilling experience for both rowers and spectators. Mainly conducted during Onam, the harvest festival in September, these races featuring the chundan vallams or snake boats are iconic. As the oarsmen dressed in white mundu and turban sing aloud the vanchipaattu (boat song), the snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of their full-throated […]

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Onam festivities and sale continue in Coimbatore

Onam festivities and sale continue in Coimbatore

Organic cotton dhoties | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement From a 21-dish onasadya with avial(vegetables made with coconut and milk), olan (ash gourd with beans in a thick coconut milk gravy), kichadi (gourd in yoghurt curry), pachadi (pineapple or bitter gourd in yoghurt) and five varieties of lip smacking payasams to Onam combo pack of delicious […]

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For Onam 2023, Mahabali comes visiting Kerala astride a hornbill in Sabari Venu’s animated art  work

For Onam 2023, Mahabali comes visiting Kerala astride a hornbill in Sabari Venu’s animated art work

Image of Mahabali, visualised by designer Sabari Venu, in 2023 | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT This time round, designer Sabari Venu has imagined a fiesty Mahabali coming to Kerala on a Great Pied Hornbill. Hair flying in the air, the mundu-clad, bearded Mahabali is clearly enjoying his ride in Sabari’s illustration, which has been shared […]

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Where to have Onasadya in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi on August 29, the Thiruvonam day

Where to have Onasadya in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi on August 29, the Thiruvonam day

Onasadya | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement Thiruvananthapuram Atelier, Marappalam Vegetarian sadya is priced ₹649 and non-vegetarian at ₹799. Contact: 9961533339, 9387087066 Hilton Garden Inn, Statue ₹1,199 plus taxes per person. Contact: 8111886843 Hotel Horizon, Thampanoor ₹500 per head. Contact: 8281182811 Hyatt Regency, Thycaud ₹1,800 plus taxes. Contact: 6238600446 Hycinth, Thampanoor ₹1,099 plus taxes. Contact: 9400000773 […]

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Kerala-based designers marry tradition with modernity this Onam

Kerala-based designers marry tradition with modernity this Onam

From Seamstress’ kitsch collection that is a bright dash of colour | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT The default Onam palette is white and gold, with the odd dash of colour either woven in, printed or added as surface embellishment. A few Kerala-based designers have added a dash of whimsy to their collections this Onam, marrying […]

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Onam celebrations of the Vallachira panchayat in Thrissur District of Kerala is now a showcase for tourists

Onam celebrations of the Vallachira panchayat in Thrissur District of Kerala is now a showcase for tourists

Vallachira Panchayath Onagosham  The Onam celebrations of Vallachira—‘Vallachira Panchayath Onagosham’— is set to go global. A Responsible Tourism Company, The Blue Yonder, along with Kerala Tourism is pivoting the festivities of the village, 15 kms from Thrissur, as a showcase for travellers. A pre Onam festival held in July 2023, had 25 vloggers and industry stakeholders […]

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