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Hindu festival · San Francisco Bay Area
Onam / Thiruvonam
Dates for the Bay Area
- Wednesday, 26 August 2026Major regional festivalnext
- Sunday, 12 September 2027Major regional festival
Why it matters
Kerala’s major harvest and homecoming festival celebrates abundance, community and the remembered return of the righteous King Mahabali; it is also linked to Vishnu’s Vamana avatar.
The story behind it
The ten-day Onam season begins at Atham and builds toward Thiruvonam with pookalam, festive meals, worship and cultural events.
Prayers and worship
Families may worship Vamana/Vishnu, create pookalam flower designs, offer prayers for prosperity and share the Onasadya feast.
Fasting and devotional customs
Fasting and household customs vary; follow the temple or family tradition for this observance.
What is typically offered
Pookalam flowers, lamps, seasonal produce and the multi-course vegetarian Onasadya.
Visiting a temple that day
Onam is both religious and broadly cultural. Temple and community programs may include music, dance and communal meals.
Spiritual themes
Hospitality, equality, abundance, gratitude and community.
Request this pooja
Sri Kumar Gurukkal performs Onam / Thiruvonam observances at your home, at a temple, or with family joining remotely.
Request a pooja Add 26 Aug 2026 to calendarKeep this in your calendar
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Subscribe to the festival calendar Share on WhatsAppThis date was validated against a location-specific Northern-California Panchāṅgam source. Dates are compiled for the Fremont / Bay Area location and checked against Northern-California Panchāṅgam references. They can differ from a calendar computed for another city or another sampradāya. Please confirm any date on which you plan a ceremony with Sri Kumar Gurukkal. How these dates are calculated →