9 Onam Competitions in Dubai 2026: Dates, Rules and Free Entry
Onamamangam runs nine cultural competitions on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026 at Mark and Save, Muhaisnah, Dubai. There is no entry fee for any category. Events include Pookkalam, Thiruvathira, cinematic dance, tug of war, payasam making, kids painting and fancy dress. Winners are announced a
Onamamangam runs nine cultural competitions on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026 at Mark and Save, Muhaisnah, Dubai. There is no entry fee for any category. Events include Pookkalam, Thiruvathira, cinematic dance, tug of war, payasam making, kids painting and fancy dress. Winners are announced at the main event in Sharjah on 6 September 2026.
The Onam competitions in Dubai 2026 are the part of the season almost nobody writes about, and every one of them is free. To help you, we have set out all nine below, one section each. You can check which ones fit your family with the tool further down.
They run on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026 at Mark and Save in Muhaisnah. That is a two-day window, so move fast.
Watching costs nothing either. A pookkalam contest in full flow is worth the trip on its own.
Onam Competitions in Dubai 2026
Nine Onam competitions run across Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026 at Mark and Save, Muhaisnah, Dubai. All of them are free to enter, and they feed into Onamamangam, the Sharjah event on 6 September 2026.
⚠️ Some entries have already closed
The Mr Malayali and Malayali Manka photo round shut on 22 August 2026. Message the organisers on WhatsApp at +971 50 811 5120 to check what is still open before you plan around any category.
Which ones can you enter? Put in an age and we will show the categories that fit. Age Entering as Woman or girl Man or boy
What Are the Nine Onam Competitions?
Four are team events, three are solo events for adults and two are for children. Every category asks for an Emirates ID to verify the entrant.
Green is a team event, gold is solo, pink is for children.
TEAM EVENT
Pookkalam
Five people build a floral carpet on a one-metre plywood base. Only fresh flowers and leaves are allowed.
Three more helpers cut flowers from outside the square. A sixth person inside means disqualification.
TEAM EVENT
Thiruvathira
The circular Kerala group dance, performed by women around a lit lamp. Organisers provide the nilavilakku on stage.
Live music is not allowed, so bring your track on a USB in MP3 form. Come already in costume, as dressing rooms are shared.
TEAM EVENT
Cinematic dance
A group routine to film songs from any Indian movie or album. Mixing tracks is allowed.
There are no age divisions here. A team of twenty-somethings and a team of fifty-somethings are judged on the same criteria.
TEAM EVENT
Vadam vali, the tug of war
A men’s event, pulled barefoot on an indoor court. Jerseys are compulsory.
Each team gets 3kg of leeway, and another 3kg after the first match. Matches are best of three, pulled over the shoulder or underarm.
SOLO, ADULTS
Payasam making
You cook the payasam at home and carry it in. No cooking happens at the venue.
Organisers supply the tables. Your ingredients and written recipe go on display beside the pot.
FOR CHILDREN
Kids painting
Three age groups, each given one hour. Paper is provided and a school ID is compulsory.
The two older groups paint to a set theme, given on the day. Bring your own brushes and colours, and fill a separate form for each child.
FOR CHILDREN
Fancy dress
A short solo turn on stage in costume. Background music tied to your theme is allowed.
Judges score the costume, the expressions and the overall presentation. Religious attire is not permitted.
SOLO, ADULTS
Mr Malayali
Two rounds. An Instagram photo in traditional Kerala dress, then a ramp final on stage.
Finalists walk the ramp and introduce themselves in Malayalam. Ramp training is given beforehand.
SOLO, ADULTS
Malayali Manka
The women’s counterpart, run the same way. Photos go on Instagram or Facebook.
One photo per person, showing at least half your body. Heavy editing, close-ups, group shots and watermarks all rule you out.
How Is the Pookkalam Judged?
Judges score out of 100 points across five headings. Design carries the most weight at 30 points.
Pookkalam scoring, out of 100
Onamamangam 2026 judging criteria Design 30 Innovation and creativity 20 Combination of colours 20 Evenness and density of flowers 20 Neatness and cleanliness 10
Some things get you disqualified outright. Coffee powder, sawdust, coloured powder, vegetables, fruit and seeds are all banned, and so is anything ground into a paste.
🌸 A nilavilakku wins you nothing
Traditional pieces such as a nilavilakku lamp or a nirapara measure are allowed around your pookkalam. They carry no marks, so spend your three hours on the flowers.
How Do You Register for the Onam Competitions?
Registration runs through the Onamamangam website, with a separate form for each category. Contact the organisers first, because the closing dates differ by event.
- WhatsApp — +971 50 811 5120
- Email — marketing@equityplusdubai.com
- Organiser — Equity Plus Advertising, Dubai
Team events need the team leader’s Emirates ID submitted a day ahead. For the pookkalam, organisers hand out the plywood bases two days before the contest.
What Happens After the Competitions?
Winners are celebrated at Onamamangam on 6 September 2026 at Expo Centre Sharjah. That is the main event, with a sadhya for more than 8,000 guests.
Read our Onamamangam 2026 guide for tickets and the line-up. Our Onam 2026 dates guide covers the festival itself, and Rajakeeyam in Sharjah closes the season on 12 September.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the Onam competitions in Dubai 2026?
The Onamamangam cultural competitions run on Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 August 2026 at Mark and Save in Muhaisnah, Dubai. Nine categories take place across the two days, covering pookkalam, Thiruvathira, cinematic dance, tug of war, payasam making, kids painting, fancy dress, Mr Malayali and Malayali Manka. Winners are celebrated at the main Onamamangam event at Expo Centre Sharjah on 6 September 2026.
Is there an entry fee for the Onam competitions?
No. There is no entry fee for any of the nine categories. The organisers, Equity Plus Advertising, run them free as the build-up to Onamamangam in Sharjah. What you do need is an Emirates ID for verification, submitted with your entry details. Team events also require the team leader’s Emirates ID a day before the competition, along with the full list of team members.
What are the pookkalam competition rules?
Teams get five people inside the marked area and three hours to design and lay the flowers, including cleaning time. Organisers supply a one-metre plywood base and place allotment is done by draw at the venue. Only fresh flowers and leaves are allowed. Coffee powder, sawdust, coloured powder, vegetables, fruit and seeds all lead to disqualification, as does grinding petals into a paste or using artificially coloured flowers.
How is the pookkalam scored?
Judges mark out of 100 points across five headings. Design carries 30 points, the most of any category. Innovation and creativity, combination of colours, and evenness and density of flowers each carry 20 points. Neatness and cleanliness carries the final 10. Traditional decorations such as a nilavilakku or nirapara are allowed around the pookkalam, but they do not earn marks. The judges’ decision is final.
Can children take part in the Onam competitions?
Yes, in three of them. Kids painting runs three age groups covering ages 3 to 15, and a school ID is required. Fancy dress splits into a junior group aged 4 to 9 and a senior group aged 10 to 15, with a short solo turn on stage. Children can also join a pookkalam team, as that category has no age limit, though small children are not allowed inside the marked area.
Is it too late to register for the Onam competitions?
It depends on the category. The Mr Malayali and Malayali Manka photo round closed on 22 August 2026, so those two are done. The remaining seven categories run on 29 and 30 August, and team events need the team leader’s Emirates ID submitted a day ahead. Message the organisers on WhatsApp at +971 50 811 5120 to check what is still open before making plans around any category.
Do you need to be Malayali to enter?
No. The published rules set out age bands, team sizes and Emirates ID verification, with no nationality requirement for the main categories. Mr Malayali and Malayali Manka do ask contestants to wear traditional Kerala attire and introduce themselves in Malayalam, which shapes who enters those two. Pookkalam, painting, fancy dress, payasam and tug of war are open on the published criteria alone.
What are the tug of war rules?
Vadam vali is a men’s event with seven players per team. The combined team weight is capped at 520kg plus 3kg, with an extra 3kg allowed after the first match. Teams must register on court by 6pm and matches start at 7pm. Jerseys are required and footwear is not permitted on the court. The rope is pulled over the shoulder or underarm, and matches are usually best of three.
Sources: Onamamangam official site, competition rules pages (accessed 28 August 2026).
