In 2027 Thiruvonam, the main day of Onam, is on Sunday, 12 September. Onam is kept in the Malayalam month Chingam on the day of the Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra; in 2027 Shravana runs from 2:59 AM on 12 September to 6:05 AM on 13 September (Prokerala: 2:58 to 6:04), so it holds at sunrise on 12 September and is over before sunrise on 13 September. Drik Panchang’s Malayalam calendar for Thiruvananthapuram also gives Onam on 12 September 2027. The ten days of the festival begin with Atham (the Hasta nakshatra), which by our calculation is Friday 3 September, and Uthradam (First Onam) is on 11 September.
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At a glance
- Thiruvonam
- Sunday, 12 September 2027
- Shravana nakshatra
- 2:59 AM on 12 September to 6:05 AM on 13 September (Prokerala: 2:58 to 6:04)
- Atham (first day)
- Friday, 3 September 2027 (our calculation)
- Uthradam (First Onam)
- Saturday, 11 September 2027
- Malayalam month
- Chingam 1203; Chingam 1 = 18 August 2027
- Where
- Kerala; Malayalis in India and abroad
- Customs
- Pookkalam, Onasadya, Onakkodi (new clothes), Vallam Kali, Pulikali
- Story
- King Mahabali visiting his people (tradition); the Vamana avatar
- State festival
- Declared Kerala’s state festival in 1961 (Wikipedia)
How the date of Onam 2027 is found
The Malayalam calendar is solar, and Onam falls on the day of the Thiruvonam (Shravana) nakshatra in the month Chingam (Wikipedia). In 2027 Chingam 1 is on 18 August (the Simha Sankranti is at 2:17 PM on 17 August, after Kerala’s limit), and the month runs until 17 September. The Shravana nakshatra of 16 August falls in Karkidakam, not Chingam; in Chingam it comes on 12 September: it begins at 2:59 AM on 12 September and ends at 6:05 AM on 13 September, while sunrise in Thiruvananthapuram on 13 September is at 6:13 AM. So Sunday, 12 September is Thiruvonam. Drik Panchang’s calendar for Thiruvananthapuram, Prokerala and Drik’s Onam page all give 12 September. AstroSage (New Delhi) gives 13 September; the Kerala calendars give 12 September.
Atham to Thiruvonam: the ten days
The ten days of Onam are named after nakshatras, from Atham (Hasta) to Thiruvonam (Shravana) (Wikipedia; Kerala Tourism). Each day’s nakshatra below is our calculation: the nakshatra at sunrise in Thiruvananthapuram. In 2027 the ten nakshatras fall at sunrise on ten days in a row, with none skipped or repeated. We could not read Drik’s Onam calendar page (captcha), so check the Atham date in your own panchang as well.
Friday 3 September: Atham
Hasta nakshatra (until 3:54 PM). The first, small pookkalam; by tradition the flag is hoisted at the Thrikkakara temple and the Athachamayam procession goes out at Thrippunithura.
Saturday 4 September: Chithira
Chitra nakshatra (until 2:50 PM).
Sunday 5 September: Chothi
Swati nakshatra (until 2:31 PM).
Monday 6 September: Vishakham
Vishakha nakshatra (until 3:00 PM).
Tuesday 7 September: Anizham
Anuradha nakshatra (until 4:17 PM).
Wednesday 8 September: Thriketta
Jyeshtha nakshatra (until 6:17 PM).
Thursday 9 September: Moolam
Mula nakshatra (until 8:53 PM).
Friday 10 September: Pooradam
Purva Ashadha nakshatra (until 11:51 PM).
Saturday 11 September: Uthradam
Uttara Ashadha nakshatra (until 2:59 AM on 12 September). First Onam; the largest pookkalam is made on Uthradam (Kerala Tourism).
Sunday 12 September: Thiruvonam
Shravana nakshatra (until 6:05 AM on 13 September). The main day of Onam: the Onasadya, and worship of Thrikkakarappan in the middle of the pookkalam.
Pookkalam: the flower carpet
According to Kerala Tourism, from the day of Atham homes in Kerala make a pookkalam, linked with welcoming Mahabali. On the first day a small one is made of thumba flowers, and it grows larger every day; on Chithira white flowers are laid, on Moolam it is made square, and the largest pookkalam is made on Uthradam. On Thiruvonam a pyramid-shaped clay figure, Thrikkakarappan, is set in the middle of the pookkalam and worshipped. Kerala Tourism also notes that opinions differ on whether Thrikkakarappan is Mahabali or Vamana. According to Wikipedia the pookkalam is mostly made by girls and women.
Onasadya, Onakkodi and Vallam Kali
Onasadya
A feast of nine or more dishes served on a banana leaf, with payasam at the end. A Malayalam saying goes “Kaanam vittum Onam unnanam”: one must have the Onam meal even if one has to sell one’s land.
Wikipedia “Onam” (citing The Hindu); Kerala TourismOnakkodi
Buying and wearing new clothes for Onam.
WikipediaVallam Kali
According to Kerala Tourism, the excitement of Onam is best seen in Vallam Kali, the races of long snake boats. Wikipedia names the Aranmula Uthrattathi and Nehru Trophy races; each race’s date is announced by its committee.
Kerala Tourism; WikipediaPulikali
The tiger dance of Thrissur, in which performers painted in yellow, red and black dance to the chenda.
Wikipedia (citing Mathrubhumi)Athachamayam
The procession at Thrippunithura, a memory of the Kochi rulers’ journey to the Thrikkakara temple festival, on the day of Atham.
Wikipedia; All India Radio NewsAfter Onam
Third Onam (Avittam) and Fourth Onam follow; Prokerala gives the four days of 2027 as 11 to 14 September. In Kerala’s 2026 list First Onam, Thiruvonam, Third and Fourth Onam were all holidays.
Prokerala; OnmanoramaMahabali and Vamana: the story and Thrikkakara
By tradition Onam is the festival of King Mahabali returning every year to visit his people (Kerala Tourism). The story is in the eighth book of the Bhagavata Purana (8.15-23): the daitya king Bali had conquered heaven; the Lord came as Vamana, son of Aditi, asked Bali for three steps of land and measured the three worlds; Bali had the third step placed on his own head (8.22.2) and was sent to Sutala. The Bhagavata (8.18.5-6) gives Vamana’s birth in the Shravana nakshatra, and Kerala Tourism likewise calls Thiruvonam in Chingam Lord Vishnu’s (Vamana’s) birthday. In Kerala’s tradition Bali was allowed to visit his people every year on Thiruvonam. According to Kerala Tourism the Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy temple in Ernakulam district is the only temple in Kerala dedicated to Vamana and the centre of Onam, with a ten-day festival from Atham. According to scholars cited by Wikipedia, Onam began as a harvest festival after the monsoon rice crop and came to be tied to the Mahabali story.
Checked against Drik Panchang and other sources
Drik Panchang’s Malayalam calendar for Thiruvananthapuram has Onam on 12 September 2027 and Chingam 1 on 18 August (read 18 October 2026). Drik’s Onam page (in search results, in Lancaster time) gives Thiruvonam on 12 September, and its nakshatra times come to 2:58 AM on 12 September to 6:04 AM on 13 September in Indian time; Prokerala gives the same 2:58 to 6:04. Our calculation gives 2:59 to 6:05, a minute later. Atham and the other days’ nakshatras are our calculation; Drik’s Onam calendar page did not open on 18 October 2026 because of a captcha. The Kerala government’s 2027 holiday list had not been found by 18 October 2026; publicholidays.in estimates First Onam on 11 and Thiruvonam on 12 September.
Frequently asked questions
When is Onam 2027?
Thiruvonam is on Sunday, 12 September. The Shravana (Thiruvonam) nakshatra of Chingam runs from 2:59 AM on 12 September to 6:05 AM on 13 September (Prokerala: 2:58 to 6:04). Drik Panchang’s Malayalam calendar and Prokerala both give 12 September.
When does Onam 2027 begin?
With Atham, which by our calculation is Friday 3 September (the Hasta nakshatra at sunrise in Thiruvananthapuram). The ten days run from 3 to 12 September; Uthradam (First Onam) is on 11 September.
Is Onam on 12 or 13 September?
By the Kerala calendars, Sunday 12 September. The Shravana nakshatra ends at 6:05 AM on 13 September (Prokerala: 6:04), before sunrise in Thiruvananthapuram at 6:13. AstroSage (New Delhi) gives 13 September, but Drik’s calendar for Thiruvananthapuram and Prokerala give 12 September.
What are the names of the ten days of Onam?
Atham, Chithira, Chothi, Vishakham, Anizham, Thriketta, Moolam, Pooradam, Uthradam and Thiruvonam, the Malayalam names of the nakshatras from Hasta to Shravana. In 2027 they run from 3 to 12 September.
When is the pookkalam started?
On Atham. A small pookkalam of thumba flowers on the first day, larger every day, and the largest on Uthradam (Kerala Tourism). In 2027 Atham is on 3 September.
What is the story of Onam?
By tradition King Mahabali visits his people every year on Thiruvonam. The story of Vamana and Bali is in the Bhagavata Purana (8.15-23); the Bhagavata gives Vamana’s birth in the Shravana nakshatra (8.18.5-6). According to scholars Onam is also an old harvest festival (Wikipedia).
When are the Onam holidays in Kerala?
The Kerala government’s 2027 list had not come out by 18 October 2026. In 2026 First Onam, Thiruvonam, Third and Fourth Onam were all holidays (Onmanorama); in 2027 Thiruvonam falls on a Sunday. Check the Kerala government’s notification for the final list.
When is the Malayalam New Year?
Kollavarsham 1203 begins on Chingam 1, Wednesday 18 August 2027 (Drik’s calendar for Thiruvananthapuram). Onam falls in this month of Chingam. Vishu (15 April 2027) is the solar New Year, but the year number changes on Chingam 1.
Sources
- Drik Panchang: Malayalam month calendar, Thiruvananthapuram, January 2026 to January 2028 (Onam 12 September 2027; Chingam 1 on 18 August 2027), read 18 October 2026 (docs/checks/solar-calendars-2026-27.md)
- Drik Panchang: “Onam Thiruvonam Date” 2027 (12 September; nakshatra 2:28 PM on 11 September to 5:34 PM on 12 September Lancaster time = 2:58 AM on 12 September to 6:04 AM on 13 September IST), from search results
- Prokerala, Onam 2027: Sunday, 12 September; Thiruvonam nakshatra 2:58 AM (12 September) to 6:04 AM (13 September), Ujjain; the four days of Onam 11-14 September
- AstroSage, Onam 2027 (New Delhi): 13 September; differs from the Kerala calendars, so not used
- Kerala Tourism (keralatourism.org/onam): ten days from Atham, Onasadya, Vallam Kali, Mahabali; “Ona Pookkalam” (the pookkalam days, Thrikkakarappan); “Thrikkakkara Appan rituals” (opinions differ on whether he is Mahabali or Vamana); “Thrikkakara Charitham” (Vamana, Thiruvonam, the festival from Atham to Thiruvonam); the Thrikkakara Vamanamoorthy temple
- Wikipedia: “Onam” (the ten days, pookkalam, the Onasadya saying, Vallam Kali, Pulikali, Athachamayam, Onakkodi, state festival in 1961, scholars on the harvest festival)
- Bhagavata Purana 8.15-23, in particular 8.18.5-6 and 8.22.2 (G. V. Tagare’s English translation; checked for our Vamana entry /kosh/vamana/)
- Onmanorama, 29 October 2025: Kerala’s public holidays for 2026 (the four Onam days); publicholidays.in: Kerala 2027 (estimate)
- All India Radio News (newsonair.gov.in): Onam begins on Atham, flag hoisting at Thrikkakara
- Pookkalam, sadya and Onam games: folk tradition
- Sankranti, nakshatras and Malayalam months: SanatanBodh panchang calculation (astronomy-engine, Lahiri ayanamsha), checked against Drik Panchang’s Malayalam calendar for Thiruvananthapuram (read 18 October 2026) and its 2027 Sankranti list
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