From Palakkad bananas to Kozhikode chips, Chennai stocks up for Onam 2025

With just weeks to go for Onam, traders and community organisations in Chennai have swung into action, gearing up to bring in raw materials and speciality food items for the traditional festive feast. Work is already underway to source and stock these essentials from Kerala and once the supplies arrive in the city over the next two weeks, the Onam spirit is set to take over Chennai.

Kerala Samajam gears up to serve authentic delicacies
The Madras Kerala Samajam, the main hub for Onam seasonal trade in the city, is once again set to offer an array of Kerala delicacies. The organisation will bring to its Onam market popular items such as banana chips, pickles, pappadams, vegetables, and coconut oil.

Around 2,000 kilograms of bananas, sourced from farms in Mannarkkad, Palakkad, will be brought in for sale. To prevent them from ripening too quickly, the stock will be transported in phases. Another major highlight is the arrival of chips from Kozhikode, sourced from the village market at Ulliyeri.

A total of 1,000 kilograms of chips including 600 kg of banana chips and 200 kg of ripe banana chips will be sold this season. Tuber varieties like yam and schott (chembu) will be sourced from different parts of Palakkad district, including Attappadi.

The Onam market at the Samajam will run from August 31 to September 4, concluding on the Uthradam day. Office-bearers of the organisation have assured that items will be sold at reasonable prices, with only costs to be recovered from consumers. Cultural programmes will be staged every evening. The Onam celebration by the Samajam, meanwhile, will take place on September 7.

In addition to the Kerala Samajam, several other organisations will also launch their own Onam markets during the festive season.

Payasam to add a sweet touch
Alongside the sale of traditional Onam items, organisations will also be organising the sale of different varieties of payasam. According to K P Ratheesh, General Secretary of the Pallavaram Kerala Samajam, all ingredients for preparing payasam are being sourced from Thrissur. The payasam will be sold on Uthradam and Thiruvonam days, preceded by an Onam market that will also feature Kozhikode chips and other Kerala specialties.

Meanwhile, the Onam feast (Onasadhya) will also be in high demand in Chennai during the festive season. Hotels and catering services are gearing up to prepare and sell the elaborate meal, with skilled cooks being brought in from Kerala to ensure authentic flavours.