Kerala indeed has a story to tell — a story that reflects the character, camaraderie, and spirit of fellowship that permeates its social structure from time immemorial: the iconic festival of Onam.
A celebration of the true Kerala story, Onam is an enduring tale of togetherness, interwoven with the nostalgia of a social order where all people lived in perfect harmony.
The idea of Onam has, since ancient times, instilled in Malayalis’ minds an intense longing for an egalitarian society, free from exploitation, greed, lies, and deceit. That was a society united by shared values and a strong sense of belonging. This nostalgia has had a deep impact on Kerala’s history, culture, and politics.
The symbolism attached to the festival is both unique and fervent. The legend has it that Onam marks the annual visit to Kerala by King Mahabali, who reigned over the land of plenty eons ago — a land in which everyone was equal and everything was fair. Along with the legend of ‘Mavelinad’ (The land of Mahabali), Onam also resonates with hope, resilience, and inclusivity.
Over time, Onam has evolved into an occasion for all to celebrate, transcending barriers of class, caste, and creed. This sense of togetherness has gained further strength since Kerala started its transformation into a modern, progressive, and aspirational society.
What makes the Kerala story fascinating and ever relevant is its celebration of social harmony in a pluralistic setting.
Since its formation as a State of the Indian Union, Kerala has emerged as a successful model of social development and inclusion. Total literacy, universal education, and a strong public healthcare system are some of the key features of the famed Kerala model. What makes it exceptional is its inclusivity.
A few days back, Kerala crossed yet another critical threshold in socio-economic inclusion by attaining full digital literacy, the first in India.
This profound transformation was not a miracle pulled off by governments alone. The State has built on the ground prepared by the social reform movements led by trailblazers such as Sree Narayana Guru. Of course, the State’s left-oriented politics has also been a key driver of this transition.
Distorting the true image
Amidst all these irrefutable facts, it is unfortunate that recently there have been some malicious attempts to depict Kerala as a strife-torn society and a fertile ground for recruiting youngsters for radical activities.
It is also a matter of concern that these falsified narratives often gain entry into even prestigious events and are bestowed with national honours.
As a society that prides itself on its secular ethos, Malayalis have rejected outright such vicious attempts. Still, the vested interests out to polarise the society on communal lines need to be called out. This is essential to remove whatever little misunderstanding this ill-motivated propaganda has left in the minds of the non-Malayali communities.
The idea of Onam, the way it is longed for, greeted, and celebrated by all sections of people, is a strong counter to the evil designs of polarising forces. This is an occasion for our writers, filmmakers, theatre personalities, and artists of all genres to come out and celebrate Onam in its true spirit.
A community festival
Apart from celebrations at home, Onam has become a community festival. Many of its cultural expressions associated with Onam have moved to community spaces. This enables all sections to be part of the festival and to cement the social solidarity.
The week-long Onam celebrations organised by the State government have been an annual feature. Helmed by the Tourism department, the festival showcases the best of Kerala’s classical, folk, and ethnic art traditions in the state capital and scores of venues. The festival has become a major tourist attraction during the season, besides drawing local crowds to enjoy dance, songs, and dramas for an entire week.
Onam has sustained Kerala’s traditional art, craft, and rural sports. The season marks the commencement of Kerala’s snake-boat races.
It all sums up the central message of Onam — social harmony and inclusivity, celebrated gracefully.
P A Mohamed Riyas is Minister for Tourism and Public Works, Kerala
Published – September 04, 2025 01:10 am IST