Uthradom is the ninth day of the Onam festival and the eve of Thiruvonam, called Onnam Onam, the first Onam. It is the day of Uthradapachil, the Uthradom rush: every vegetable, banana and yard of cloth for tomorrow is bought today. By evening the largest flower carpet of the ten days is laid, clay pyramids for the king are set at the centre of the courtyard, and the house is ready.
The story
Mahabali is said to arrive in Kerala on Uthradom evening and to stay four days. A household that has nothing ready for him is unthinkable, and the proverb says one should sell even one's land to feast at Onam.
The ten days are counted by stars, from Atham to Thiruvonam. Each has its name and its share of the preparations, and the flower carpet grows by a ring each day.
കാണം വിറ്റും ഓണം ഉണ്ണണം
Sell your land if you must, but eat your Onam feast
A Malayalam proverb
How the day goes
- UthradapachilThe last-minute shopping, at markets that stay open most of the night.
- Uthrada kazhchaBy old custom tenants brought the first fruits of the harvest to the landowner and were given cloth in return.
- The pookkalamLaid with thumba, mukkutti, hibiscus and marigold; the Uthradom carpet is the largest.
- OnathappanSmall pyramids of clay standing for Vamana and Mahabali are set in the courtyard.
- Cooking beginsPickles, banana chips and sharkara upperi are made ahead for the feast.
Why this date
Uthradom is the day before Thiruvonam: the day ruled by the star Uthradam (Uttara Ashadha) in the month of Chingam.
Uthradom in other years
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Tuesday | |
| 2027 | Saturday | |
| 2028 | Thursday | |
| 2029 | Tuesday | |
| 2030 | Sunday | |
| 2031 | Friday |
More Kerala festivals
12 SeptemberThiruvonamതിരുവോണം
18 AugustChingam 1ചിങ്ങം ഒന്ന്
24 AugustAshtami Rohiniഅഷ്ടമിരോഹിണി
4 SeptemberVinayaka Chathurthiവിനായക ചതുർത്ഥി
7 OctoberDurgashtamiദുർഗ്ഗാഷ്ടമി
9 OctoberMahanavamiമഹാനവമി
Where to see Uthradom
In Kerala
- Thrikkakara TempleKeralaThe temple of Vamana near Kochi, held to be the centre of Mahabali's kingdom; its ten-day festival is Onam itself.
- Chalai Market, ThiruvananthapuramKeralaThe capital's old bazaar at its fullest.
- ThripunithuraKeralaWhere the Athachamayam procession opens the ten days.
Across India
- ThovalaiTamil NaduThe flower market near Kanyakumari that supplies most of Kerala's Onam carpets.
- MumbaiMaharashtraGaneshotsav usually falls within the same fortnight.
- BengaluruKarnatakaHome to one of the largest Malayali communities outside Kerala, with Onam fairs of its own.