SPOnam 2026: Celebrating tradition, culture and community at SPJIMR

Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, is a celebration of prosperity, gratitude and togetherness. Rooted in the story of King Mahabali and his return to Kerala, the festival brings people together through traditions passed down across generations – from pookkalam and traditional performances to games, festive attire and the elaborate Onam Sadhya. At its heart, Onam is about coming together and sharing in the spirit of abundance.

At SPJIMR, this spirit came alive through SPOnam 2026, continuing a longstanding campus tradition of celebrating Onam with the wider community at the Institute. Over the years, SPOnam has evolved into an occasion that brings together students, faculty and staff to experience and participate in Kerala’s traditions.

The 2026 celebrations began with the vibrant beats of Singari Melam, followed by a festive procession. Traditional Onam games, including Uriyadi and Tug of War, brought a lively competitive spirit, with students cheering and participating enthusiastically. This year saw 350+ registrations, reflecting the community’s enthusiasm for coming together beyond the classroom.

A defining feature of SPOnam is its student-led nature. The 2026 celebration was planned and executed by students across registrations, logistics, performances, games and the Sadhya. Faculty, Administration, Student Council and staff supported the team throughout, making it a collaborative effort across the SPJIMR community.

The cultural programme at MLS featured student and faculty performances, including Thiruvathira, music and dance. Malayali Manka and Kerala Sreeman added another element of participation, with participants taking to the ramp in their festive best.

For Sajit M Mathews, Core Faculty – Business Communication and Deputy Chair, PGDM & PGDM (BM), the celebrations brought back memories of Onam in Kerala:

“Onam celebration at SPJIMR took me right back to my days in Kerala. Between the thunderous beats of the drums, a stunning floral Pookkalam, traditional games, and everyone decked out in festive attire, the campus was buzzing with joy and energy. A variety of cultural programmes and a super-delicious Onam Sadhya served on a banana leaf – a full package! Huge shoutout to our young student team for pulling off such a flawless, high-energy event. The joy was truly contagious!”

For Jayakrishnan K R, PGDM student and organiser:

“SPOnam was a truly rewarding experience. Seeing everyone come together, from the initial planning and preparations to the celebrations on the day, made all the effort worthwhile. It was amazing to see something we worked on together create such a wonderful experience for the entire SPJIMR community.”

The celebrations culminated in the traditional Sadhya, served on banana leaves at the Recreation Centre. Beyond the meal itself, serving the Sadhya became an opportunity for students to extend the warmth and hospitality central to Onam.

Lisa Varghese Thomas, Lead Manager, DoCC, reflected:

“The Onam celebrations hosted by the students on Sunday, August 16th, 2026, were truly wonderful. Though we arrived a bit late and missed the procession, we caught the lively games in the MLS stilt area and thoroughly enjoyed the brilliant cultural performances in the MLS auditorium. The Onam Sadhya on banana leaves at the Recreation Centre was delicious. It was made more heartwarming by the genuine warmth and affection with which the students served us. Overall, it was a beautifully organised and memorable day.”

Behind the performances, games and feast was a larger student effort involving planning, coordination and collaboration. For the organisers, SPOnam was not only an opportunity to celebrate a cultural tradition but also an experience in bringing together people, teams and resources for the wider institute community.

That is what made SPOnam 2026 meaningful: a festival with deep cultural roots became an opportunity for the SPJIMR community to participate, share and celebrate together.

As the celebrations came to a close, SPOnam once again brought people together through tradition, food, culture and the simple joy of celebrating as a community.