Onam, Kerala’s much-loved harvest festival, will take an unusual turn in 2026. While Onam is traditionally celebrated over 10 days, Malayalis in the UAE will observe an 11-day Atham-to-Thiruvonam sequence this year. The reason lies in the Malayalam calendar and the way it tracks nakshatras, or lunar mansion stars, rather than simply counting consecutive calendar dates.
Onam 2026: Why UAE’s Malayali Community Will Celebrate An 11-Day Festival
Why Is Onam 11 Days This Year?
The traditional Onam countdown begins with Atham and ends with Thiruvonam, the festival’s most important day. Usually, these star days fall across 10 calendar days. However, in 2026, Visakham star spans two calendar dates, August 19 and 20. This pushes Thiruvonam to August 26, making the Atham-to-Thiruvonam sequence stretch across 11 calendar days. Atham began on August 16 as per Gulf News.
Also Read: 8 Best Places For Onam Sadhya In Dubai That Will Transport You To Kerala!
What Does Onam Celebrate?
Onam is Kerala’s major harvest festival and is traditionally associated with the legendary homecoming of King Mahabali, whose reign is remembered as a period of prosperity and equality. Families mark the occasion with colourful pookkalams, traditional clothing, cultural performances, games, and the elaborate vegetarian Onam sadhya.
The celebration has a particularly strong presence in the UAE, which is home to around 4.5 million Indians, including more than one million people estimated to be from Kerala. As a result, Onam has become an important part of the UAE’s multicultural celebrations.
Also Read: Onam Sadhya 2026 In Abu Dhabi: 8 Places To Relive Kerala’s Grand Feast In The UAE
UAE Gets Ready For Onam
Preparations are already visible across the Emirates. Some Malayali retailers are offering traditional Kerala outfits featuring UAE landmarks such as the Burj Khalifa and Museum of the Future, blending Kerala heritage with affection for their adopted home.
Even the ingredients for the traditional sadhya are receiving special attention. More than 2,500 tonnes of fresh produce and Onam-related food essentials are being transported from Kerala to Gulf markets by air through special arrangements by Lulu Group.
Across Dubai and Sharjah, malls, community groups and cultural organisations are also hosting pookkalam competitions, traditional dance performances and festive gatherings. So, while Thiruvonam falls on August 26, the UAE’s Onam celebrations are likely to continue well beyond the main festival day.
Cover Image Courtesy: Burjuman/Wesbite
FAQs
When did the Onam countdown begin in 2026?
The Atham star, which marks the beginning of the traditional Onam countdown, fell on August 16, 2026.
Why does the Malayalam calendar use nakshatras?
Nakshatras help determine important dates in the Malayalam calendar by tracking specific positions of the Moon against 27 lunar star divisions.