Bengaluru Celebrates Onam with Traditional Sadhyas, Pookalams and Cultural Gatherings

Bengaluru celebrated Onam across apartment courtyards, workplaces, restaurants, and community halls, bringing Kerala’s traditional festival alive with floral carpets, music, and grand Sadhya feasts.

Food remained at the heart of the city's festivities. Restaurants, five-star hotels, caterers, and Malayali community halls prepared elaborate Sadhyas for Thiruvonam, with several establishments offering advance bookings and home delivery options.

Community organisations played a key role in the festivities. The East Cultural Association (ECA), which has been promoting Kerala’s cultural traditions in the city for over five decades, hosted Onotsavam, its annual Onam celebration featuring traditional and contemporary cultural programmes, competitions, and community gatherings.

ECA Chairperson Gopalakrishnan V N highlighted the significance of the communal feast, stating that gathering over a traditional Sadhya recreates the sense of community central to the festival. He noted that the annual celebrations provide residents living away from Kerala an opportunity to honour their roots, reconnect with familiar traditions, and pass them on to the next generation.

Workplaces across Bengaluru’s technology sector also emerged as active venues for the festival. Employees organised pookalam competitions, traditional dress days, cultural performances, and shared Sadhya lunches, encouraging participation across diverse communities.