Keralites Mark Thiru Onam with Festive Cheer and Tradition

Quick Summary

• Celebrations: Keralites celebrated thiru Onam,a largely secular festival symbolizing an idyllic pastoral past associated with King Mahabali’s utopian reign.
• Festive Highlights: Customs included the conventional sadya (vegetarian feast), floral decorations (athapoo), fireworks, gifts, swings, and revival of post-harvest games like Ola Panthu, Kuttiyum Kolum, and Uri Adi.
• Devotional Observances: Devotees thronged prominent temples such as Sree Padmanabha Swamy Temple in Thiruvananthapuram and others across Kerala.
• Philanthropy: DYFI served sadya to patients in government hospitals. Voluntary organizations extended feasts to orphanages and nursing homes.
• Retail Activity & Media Engagement: Businesses heavily invested in Onam campaigns; Malayalam media lined up celebrity shows and entertainment specials.
• Social Grievances & Culture at Prisons: Hunger strikes were staged outside the Secretariat; prison inmates participated in cultural programs while enjoying sadya meals together.
• Public Events at Kanakakunnu Palace: programs included drone shows, dance performances, music concerts, and traditional art displays in the capital city’s colonial-era venue.
• Commercial Trends & Liquor Sales Spike: BEVCO liquor sales reached ₹826.38 crore during Onam 2025-a 6.38% increase compared to last year’s season.

Indian Opinion Analysis

Onam’s blend of tradition and modernity illustrates Kerala’s cultural richness while offering insights into socio-economic behavior during festive seasons. The revived post-harvest games signal heightened efforts to preserve heritage amid digital distractions. High liquor sales reflect expanding consumer spending patterns that could indicate economic recovery or increased social indulgence tied to celebrations.

Voluntary philanthropy reinforces community values central to Kerala’s ethos, but hunger strikes alongside festivities highlight unresolved grievances even on celebratory occasions-underscoring a dual narrative of celebration mixed with demands for justice. On a larger scale of importance for India,the integrated participation from locals residing overseas emphasizes familial unity transcending borders during key festivals.

While commercialization thrives around major festivals like these through promotions across retail sectors and media networks engaging viewers worldwide-it invokes reflection on balancing profit motives alongside cultural authenticity preservation for younger generations exposed primarily through such lenses.

Read more: Published – September 05, 2025