Onam can be considered one festival, its observance speaks of something far more complex.
In Kerala, for instance, the festival is marked during ten days, namely from Atham to Thiruvonam, while the official holiday lasts for four days surrounding the main festival, in 2026 falling on August 25 to August 28, with Thiruvonam falling on August 26. But why do four official Onam days exist? Can you differentiate between First Onam, Thiruvonam, Third Onam, and Fourth Onam? The answer becomes clearer when looking into the specifics beyond just the dates. Every day has a special atmosphere.
