Travellers flying Emirates this week are in for a festive treat, as the airline brings the flavours of Kerala’s harvest festival, Onam, onboard. Until 6 September, customers flying between Dubai and Kochi or Thiruvananthapuram will be served authentic Onam-inspired meals across all cabin classes.

The specially curated menus are designed to give Keralites a taste of home in the skies, featuring traditional appetisers such as sharkara upperi (banana roasted in jaggery), kaya varuthathu (crisp banana chips), and kondattam mulaku (fried sundried chillies with yoghurt).

Passengers can also enjoy a spread of signature dips including kaalan (coconut, yam and yoghurt), cucumber pachadi, and puli inji (sweet and tangy ginger chutney). First and Business Class guests will also be offered Kerala-style pappadam and mango pickle.

Festive mains and desserts

Highlights from the main course include:

• Alleppey kozhi curry – chicken in coconut sauce with avial, chemba rice and cabbage carrot thoran
• Vegetarian sadhya with sambar, kootu, matta rice and seasonal thoran
• Nadan kozhi kari – pan-fried chicken with coconut and spices served with rice and sides
• Kerala-style chicken stew (exclusive to First Class)

To finish on a sweet note, desserts include palada pradhaman (creamy rice pudding with nuts and raisins) and parippu payasam (sweet lentil pudding topped with roasted coconut flakes). Meals will be served on banana leaf dish liners to capture the authentic feel of the Onam sadhya.

More than just food

Beyond the festive menu, passengers can explore 6,500+ channels of entertainment on Emirates’ award-winning ice system, including 15 Malayalam films, 170 Indian movies, Bollywood favourites, popular TV shows, and music albums from leading Indian artists.

With this Onam offering, Emirates continues its tradition of celebrating cultural festivals onboard, making journeys memorable for Keralite travellers and global customers alike.