Onam Festival and the celebrations in Kerala

The Story of Onam Festival and the delicious Onam Sadhya

Onam is the biggest and most important festival of Kerala. People of all religions and communities celebrate it with joy and enthusiasm. Onam falls in the month of Chingam, which is the first month of Malayalam calendar. It is a harvest festival.

The Onam story :

According to mythology, King Mahabali was the greatest king of Kerala. During his rule people saw the best of times. His kingdom was filled with prosperity and grandeur. The king was very kind and generous. Lord Vishnu emerged as a Vaman (short Brahmin) and tricked the king to give him what land he had. King Mahabali was sent to the lower world. But Lord Vishnu granted him a boon. He could visit his land once every year. Onam celebrates the homecoming of the king. It is believed that the spirit of the king will visit Kerala at the time of Onam. It also celebrates the Vaman avatar of Lord Vishnu. It is a ten-day long festival. The tenth day is celebrated as Thiruvonam.

The grand Onam festival:

Women make charecteristic floral designs called 'Pookalam' on all the ten days of Onam festival. This is made by arranging flowers in different patterns on the ground. Lamps are lit and placed on Pookalam to welcome King Mahabali to their house. Grand feasts are prepared for Onam. This is known as Onam Sadya. Usually 13 dishes are prepared for this feast but the number of dishes can go up to 26. Everyone prepares Onasadya in a grand manner. Rice is the essential ingredient of Onam Sadya. The Onam Sadya menu prepared for Onam comprises of sambhar, Kootukeri, Upperies, Pappadams, Uppilittathu, Chammanthi, Erisseri, Pulisseri, Olan, Thoran, Avial, Kaalan, Pachadi, Kichadi, Rasam, Payasam and Pradhaman. Sadya feast is purely vegetarian and while preparing the food onion and garlic are not used. It is served on a banana leaf and eaten sitting on the floor.

Payasam is a charecteristic sweet dish made during Onam. Payasam is a must in the Onam feast. Payasam is a desert. It is a kheer type of dish. It is made of boiled rice or dal, coconut milk and jaggery/sugar is added. It comes in many varieties like pal payasam, pal ada payasam, ney payasam, parippu (dal) payasam, semiya (vermicelli) payasam to name a few. All varieties of payasam are equally delicious.

Onam food items are in fact a carefully designed nutritional package. Onam Sadya has toned down a little due to the urban and hectic lifestyle. People do not find enough time to cook an elaborate feast. But everyone will be happy to taste the delicious dishes of Kerala Onam food. Onam dishes and Kerala sweets must be tasted by everyone.

Onam Sadhya by Masalabox:

Masala box offers Onam special recipes. There is a special Onam Sadya menu offered by Masala box. Onam special recipes are cooked in authentic style by homechefs at Masalabox. These Onam special recipes are available in Kochi and Bangalore. You can visit the website and pre-order your food at Masalabox. We accept individual orders and party Onam sadhya orders .

We also have onam sadya menu customized for corporate orders and bulk requirements.

Celebrate Onam and enjoy Masalabox's authentic cuisine. You will be tempted to order again and again.