Kerala’s harvest festival
Onam in the United Kingdom
Malayali associations across the UK — in London, Birmingham, Manchester and the many towns where Keralite nurses work for the NHS — hold Onam sadyas, pookalam contests and thiruvathira dance over several September weekends.
Onam events in the United Kingdom1 listed
What Onam is
Kerala’s harvest festival: a 26-dish sadya on a banana leaf, pookalam flower carpets, and Malayali associations everywhere booking a hall for it.
Onam welcomes the mythical king Mahabali home to Kerala. The ten days end on Thiruvonam with the Onasadya — a vegetarian feast of two dozen dishes served on a banana leaf — and are marked with pookalam floral designs, boat races, and the tiger dance, pulikali.
If it is your first one in the United Kingdom
- The sadya is eaten by hand, seated, and served in a fixed order — follow your neighbour.
- Wear white and gold (kasavu) if you have it; it is the one day the whole hall does.
Questions people ask
- When is Onam in the United Kingdom in this year?
- Onam falls on the usual August – September dates. It is not a public holiday in the United Kingdom, so the community celebrates on the weekends around it — 1 event is listed on this page, each with its own date.
- Where can I celebrate Onam in the United Kingdom?
- Malayali associations across the UK — in London, Birmingham, Manchester and the many towns where Keralite nurses work for the NHS — hold Onam sadyas, pookalam contests and thiruvathira dance over several September weekends. This year’s listings so far are in London.
- Can non-Indians go to Onam events in the United Kingdom?
- Yes. Almost every community event is open to everyone and runs in English; temple and gurdwara celebrations welcome visitors too — dress modestly, and cover your head in a gurdwara.
More festivals in the United Kingdom
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Organising something?
Post it from the app under Events, wherever you are. It is free, a moderator checks it, and it appears here and to every member nearby. Running several a year? Email hello@namaste.community for a listing invite.