How well do you know Onam? From King Mahabali and Pookalam to Onam Sadya, Vallam Kali and Kerala traditions, these 50 Onam quiz questions and answers are perfect for kids, students, families, office celebrations and festive quiz competitions.
Onam Quiz Questions & Answers: Easy to Hard Trivia
Jump To: Easy Onam Quiz Questions | Onam Quiz for Kids | Mahabali & Onam History | Pookalam & Onam Traditions | Onam Sadya Quiz | Hard Onam GK | FAQs
Easy Onam Quiz Questions & Answers
1. In which Indian state is Onam celebrated most prominently?
Answer: Kerala.
2. Onam is widely celebrated as what type of festival?
Answer: A harvest festival.
3. Which legendary king is welcomed during Onam?
Answer: King Mahabali, also known as Maveli.
4. What is the floral decoration made during Onam called?
Answer: Pookalam.
5. What is the traditional Onam feast called?
Answer: Onasadya or Onam Sadya.
6. Onam falls during which month of the Malayalam calendar?
Answer: Chingam.
7. What is the main day of the Onam festival called?
Answer: Thiruvonam.
8. What is Vallam Kali?
Answer: Kerala’s traditional boat race.
9. Onam celebrations traditionally begin on which day?
Answer: Atham.
10. For approximately how many days are the main Onam festivities celebrated?
Answer: Ten days.
Onam Quiz Questions for Kids & Students
11. What type of leaf is traditionally used to serve Onam Sadya?
Answer: A banana or plantain leaf.
12. What sweet dish is commonly served during Onam Sadya?
Answer: Payasam.
13. What is another popular name for King Mahabali?
Answer: Maveli.
14. What are Pookalams mainly made with?
Answer: Flowers.
15. Which colour is commonly associated with Kerala’s traditional Kasavu clothing?
Answer: White or cream with a gold border.
16. What do people traditionally create outside their homes to welcome Mahabali?
Answer: Pookalam or floral carpets.
17. Which famous animal-inspired folk performance is seen during Onam?
Answer: Pulikali or Tiger Dance.
18. What does the word “Sadya” refer to?
Answer: A traditional Kerala feast.
King Mahabali & Onam History Questions
19. According to Onam legend, who was the ruler of Kerala during a golden age of prosperity?
Answer: King Mahabali.
20. Which Hindu deity took the form of Vamana in the Mahabali legend?
Answer: Lord Vishnu.
21. What form did Vishnu take when he approached Mahabali?
Answer: Vamana, a dwarf Brahmin.
22. What did Vamana ask Mahabali to give him?
Answer: As much land as he could cover in three steps.
23. What did Mahabali offer when there was nowhere left for Vamana’s third step?
Answer: His own head.
24. According to legend, what special permission was Mahabali eventually given?
Answer: Permission to return and visit his people once every year.
25. King Mahabali was the grandson of which famous devotee of Vishnu?
Answer: Prahlada.
26. Which Kerala temple is closely connected with the legend of Vamana and Onam?
Answer: Thrikkakara Vamana Moorthy Temple.
Pookalam, 10 Days of Onam & Traditions Quiz
27. What is the first day of the ten-day Onam festivities called?
Answer: Atham.
28. What is the tenth and most important day of Onam called?
Answer: Thiruvonam.
29. What is Uthradam in relation to Thiruvonam?
Answer: The day immediately before Thiruvonam.
30. What does a Pookalam traditionally use to create its colourful patterns?
Answer: Fresh flowers and flower petals.
31. Why are Pookalams traditionally created during Onam?
Answer: They form part of the festive welcome associated with King Mahabali’s annual visit.
32. What is Athachamayam?
Answer: A colourful cultural procession traditionally associated with the beginning of Onam festivities.
33. In which Kerala town is the famous Athachamayam procession held?
Answer: Tripunithura.
34. What is Onakkodi?
Answer: New clothes traditionally worn or gifted for Onam.
Onam Sadya Quiz Questions & Answers
35. On which important Onam day is the grand Onasadya traditionally associated?
Answer: Thiruvonam.
36. What is Avial?
Answer: A traditional mixed-vegetable dish commonly included in Sadya.
37. What is Payasam?
Answer: A sweet pudding or dessert served as part of festive meals such as Onam Sadya.
38. Which traditional Sadya dessert is made with ada, jaggery and coconut milk?
Answer: Ada Pradhaman.
39. Which crunchy banana snack is commonly served during Sadya?
Answer: Banana chips (Upperi).
40. What is Sharkara Varatti?
Answer: Jaggery-coated banana pieces or chips served during Sadya.
41. Which lentil curry is traditionally served with rice and ghee near the beginning of Sadya?
Answer: Parippu.
42. Name any three traditional dishes commonly served in an Onam Sadya.
Answer: Any three such as Avial, Sambar, Thoran, Olan, Kaalan, Erissery, Pachadi or Kichadi.
Hard Onam GK Questions & Answers
43. What does “Vallam Kali” refer to in Onam celebrations?
Answer: Boat racing.
44. What are the long traditional racing boats popularly associated with Kerala boat races often called?
Answer: Snake boats or Chundan Vallams.
45. Which Kerala city is especially famous for its grand Pulikali celebrations?
Answer: Thrissur.
46. On which day of Onam is Thrissur’s famous Pulikali traditionally performed?
Answer: On the fourth day of Onam.
47. What do Pulikali performers traditionally paint themselves to resemble?
Answer: Tigers or big cats.
48. Name a traditional group dance commonly associated with Kerala’s Onam celebrations.
Answer: Thiruvathirakali.
49. What traditional Onam game is known as Vadam Vali?
Answer: Tug of War.
50. Which Malayalam folk song famously recalls the prosperous reign of King Mahabali?
Answer: “Maveli Nadu Vaneedum Kalam.”
Also Explore: Onam Wishes | Onam Games for Employees | Onam Games for Kids | Onam Pookalam Ideas
FAQs About Onam Quiz Questions
What are some easy Onam quiz questions?
Easy Onam quiz questions can cover Kerala, King Mahabali, Pookalam, Onam Sadya, Thiruvonam and Vallam Kali.
What topics should an Onam quiz include?
A good Onam quiz can include Mahabali, the ten days of Onam, Pookalam, Sadya, Kerala culture, boat races and traditional art forms.
Can these Onam questions be used for kids?
Yes. The easy and kids sections are suitable for school activities, students and family Onam quiz competitions.
Can these questions be used for office Onam celebrations?
Yes. Pick 10–20 questions from different categories and divide employees into teams for a quick Onam quiz.