President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and an array of leaders conveyed warm wishes on the occasion of Onam, the traditional harvest festival in Kerala, celebrating the homecoming of King Mahabali. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan were among those extending their heartfelt greetings. President Murmu expressed gratitude to Mother Nature for its bounties and wished for prosperity and harmony.
PM Modi conveyed his hopes for health, joy, and prosperity in his Onam greeting. Chief Minister Stalin emphasized unity in his message, akin to King Mahabali’s all-inclusive approach. Onam, Kerala’s grand festival, stands as a secular tradition, highlighted by the traditional 26-dish ‘sadhya’ feast. The celebration includes the customary use of banana leaves and, in some cases, sitting on the floor for meals.
The festive spirit also includes alcohol consumption, evident from record-breaking liquor sales of Rs 116 crore on the first day of Onam this year. Meanwhile, Congress member Kodikunnil Suresh seized the day to protest for the aid of beleaguered farmers in crisis. Onam festivities traditionally lead to the temporary closure of the state, resuming normalcy the following Monday.