Onam 2021: What Is Traditional Feast Onam Sadhya? Check 26 Dishes Served On This Occasion In Kerala

Onam 2021: The harvest festival is marked by various celebrations where people in Kerala prepare more than two dozen vegetarian dishes for the grand feast to be served on banana leaves.

Traditional Feast Onam Sadhya | File Image

New Delhi: It is that time of the year when Malayalis around the world eagerly wait for the 10-day harvest festival Onam in which they celebrate the return of the legendary King Mahabali, by organising a grand feast, also popularly known as Onam Sadhya.

Onam, also referred to as Thiru-Onam or Thiruvonam, is celebrated during the first month of the Malayalam calendar known as Chingam. Onam preparations and celebrations go on for a period extending to 10 days. Onam 2021 celebrations began on August 12 and will continue until August 23.

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The harvest festival is marked by various celebrations where people in Kerala prepare more than two dozen vegetarian dishes for the grand feast to be served on banana leaves. The celebrations usually start a few days in advance.

Known for its serene backwaters and beaches, the state turns into a delightful sight during the Onam festival when its rich culture comes to full display enthralling visitors.

On this day, enjoy the traditional Onam Sadhya seating cross-legged on mats and eating with their hands as per the customs.

The multi-course vegetarian meal served on the occasion on a huge banana leaf is more than just a feast. The whole feast, which has been curated by our ancestors is said to be a complete, balanced and nutritious meal that ensures proper digestion and optimum absorption of nutrients by the body.

Onam Sadhya can be ordered from home chefs who have become popular through social media sites Instagram and Facebook. Besides that, the traditional feast can be enjoyed at restaurants and hotels.

What comprises the traditional vegetarian feast?

Onam Sadhya is incomplete without pappads made from rice flour and banana chips are served followed by the 25 delicious dishes.

It also consists of Sharkara Varatti, a sweeter version of banana chips made out of jaggery. Most Malayali households prepare inji curry from ginger, tamarind, and jaggery, which is the first thing prepared in the days leading to the 10th day of Onam.

Even Mango Curry served in the feast adds to the zing and then Naranga Curry, a sour lemon pickle also adds more zest to the meal. The elaborate meal consists of Pachadi, a yogurt-based dish made with either pineapple or bitter gourd and grated coconut.

Olan is another popular dish made with ash gourd and red beans splashed with a generous amount of hand-pressed, authentic coconut milk.

Other dishes include Ellisheri, Avial, Thoran, and Chor.  Rice is an essential part of Onam Sadhya but on this occasion, most Malayalis serve red rice.

Parripu Curry, Chenna Mezhkkupuratti, Sambhar, Pulissery, Kaalan, Morru Kachiyatha, Kichadi,  Rasam, Kootu Curry, Neyy, Inji Thayir, Poovan Pazham, Palada Pradhaman, Poovan Pazham and Pazham Pradhaman are some of the tasty dishes that complete the Onam Sadhya.