Onam 2026 is being celebrated across Kerala and by Malayali communities around the world, with Thiruvonam observed on Wednesday, August 26. The annual festival is one of Kerala's most important cultural celebrations and is traditionally associated with the homecoming of King Mahabali.
The festival has also brought greetings from several well known personalities in the South Indian entertainment industry. Popular actors, musicians and filmmakers have joined the celebrations by sharing festive messages with their fans and followers.
Among the celebrities associated with this year's Onam greetings are Allu Arjun, Mohanlal, Karthi, Prabhu Deva, Aju Varghese, Vimala Raman and Anirudh Ravichander.
Onam is traditionally celebrated over a period of 10 days, beginning with Atham and culminating in Thiruvonam. This year's main celebration falls on August 26.
The festival is known for its distinctive cultural traditions. Homes and public spaces are decorated with colourful floral arrangements known as pookkalam. Families also prepare Onasadya, a traditional festive meal served on a banana leaf.
Family gatherings, traditional clothing, cultural performances and other celebrations form an important part of the festival.
For Malayalis, Onam represents more than a religious or harvest celebration. It is closely associated with ideas of prosperity, equality, togetherness and cultural identity.
The legend of King Mahabali remains at the heart of the festival. According to traditional belief, Mahabali returns each year to visit his people during Onam. His reign is remembered as a period associated with prosperity and happiness.
This cultural significance has made Onam an important occasion for Malayalis living outside Kerala as well.
Allu Arjun's Onam Connection
Telugu cinema star Allu Arjun is among the popular South Indian personalities associated with Onam greetings this year.
The actor has a substantial fan following across Kerala, where his films have traditionally received considerable attention.
His participation in the festive celebrations reflects the strong connection between South Indian cinema personalities and audiences across linguistic boundaries.
Actors from Telugu, Tamil, Kannada and Malayalam cinema regularly interact with audiences across the region, and festival greetings provide another opportunity for stars to connect with their fans.
Mohanlal's Festive Greetings
Malayalam superstar Mohanlal is another prominent figure associated with this year's Onam celebrations.
As one of the most recognised actors in Malayalam cinema, Mohanlal has a particularly strong cultural connection with Kerala audiences.
Onam remains one of the most important occasions in the Malayalam calendar, and greetings from leading Malayalam personalities are widely followed by fans.
The festival also coincides with a busy period for Malayalam cinema, with several films and entertainment programmes being promoted during the festive season.
Karthi and Prabhu Deva
Tamil cinema personalities Karthi and Prabhu Deva are also among the South Indian stars extending Onam wishes.
Karthi has maintained a strong fan base in Kerala through his Tamil films, while Prabhu Deva has worked across several Indian film industries as an actor, choreographer and filmmaker.
Their participation highlights the increasingly interconnected nature of South Indian entertainment.
Tamil and Malayalam audiences frequently follow films and artists across language barriers, while actors often share their festive wishes with audiences across the southern states.
Aju Varghese and Vimala Raman
Malayalam actors Aju Varghese and Vimala Raman have also been part of the festive greetings surrounding Onam 2026.
For Malayalam film personalities, the festival provides an opportunity to connect directly with audiences and celebrate Kerala's cultural traditions.
The entertainment industry traditionally plays a visible role during Onam, with television programmes, film releases, music events and special shows forming part of the festive atmosphere.
Anirudh Ravichander
Music composer Anirudh Ravichander is another prominent South Indian entertainment personality associated with this year's Onam greetings.
Anirudh has established a major presence across Tamil cinema and has also worked on projects in several other Indian languages.
His popularity among younger audiences has helped make his festive messages particularly relevant to fans who follow South Indian music and cinema.
Onam and South Indian Cinema
The connection between Onam and South Indian cinema has grown significantly over the years.
The festival season often coincides with major film releases, television specials and promotional events. Cinema personalities frequently use social media to share photographs, messages and greetings with their audiences.
For film stars, these posts offer a way to participate in a major cultural celebration while maintaining a direct connection with fans.
For audiences, celebrity greetings have become part of the wider digital celebration of festivals.
This year, the participation of personalities from different industries once again reflects the broad cultural reach of Onam.
Although Onam has its strongest roots in Kerala, the festival is celebrated by Malayali communities across India and in many countries around the world.
The celebrations typically include traditional attire, floral decorations, festive meals and cultural programmes.
The Importance of Thiruvonam
Thiruvonam is considered the most important day of the 10 day Onam celebration.
The day is associated with the annual return of King Mahabali and is marked by family gatherings and traditional celebrations.
The festival's emphasis on togetherness is one reason it continues to remain important to Malayali communities.
Onam is also traditionally regarded as a harvest festival. Its celebrations reflect Kerala's agricultural and cultural heritage while bringing families and communities together.
Modern celebrations have expanded beyond traditional household activities, with public events, cultural programmes, competitions and digital celebrations becoming increasingly common.
Social media has also changed the way people share festival greetings.
Instead of limiting celebrations to personal gatherings, people now share messages, photographs and videos with friends and followers across the world.
Celebrity posts have become an important part of this digital festival culture.
A Festival That Brings People Together
One of the central themes of Onam is togetherness.
The traditional Onasadya brings family members together around a shared meal, while pookkalam competitions and cultural programmes encourage community participation.
The festival's message of harmony and equality is also frequently highlighted in public greetings.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Chief Minister V D Satheesan have also emphasised themes such as equality, harmony and togetherness in their Onam messages this year.
Political leaders and public personalities outside Kerala have also shared greetings. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin extended Onam wishes with a message highlighting equality and the cultural significance of Mahabali.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay also shared Onam greetings for Malayali communities, wishing for happiness, prosperity and togetherness.
The participation of film stars alongside public figures demonstrates the wide cultural reach of the festival.
For South Indian cinema fans, celebrity greetings add an entertainment dimension to the celebrations, while the central traditions of Onam remain rooted in family, community and cultural heritage.
As Thiruvonam is celebrated on August 26, 2026, Kerala and Malayali communities worldwide are marking the occasion through traditional meals, floral decorations, cultural activities and family gatherings.
The greetings shared by Allu Arjun, Mohanlal, Karthi, Prabhu Deva, Aju Varghese, Vimala Raman and Anirudh Ravichander have added to the festive atmosphere among their followers.
The celebrity messages also underline the strong relationship between South Indian cinema and its audiences across different states.
Onam continues to bring together people from different backgrounds through its themes of prosperity, happiness, harmony and togetherness.
For millions of Malayalis, the festival remains an important annual occasion to celebrate family relationships, cultural traditions and the spirit of community.
The 2026 celebrations are therefore taking place both offline and online, with traditional festivities complemented by digital greetings from celebrities and public figures.