P C Vishnunadh, Minister for Tourism and Culture, Kerala
Onam has arrived with its shared memories of belonging and hope.
It is a festival that reminds us of a glorious past and energises our pursuit of making our society more inclusive as the memories of Onam are embedded in our collective consciousness.
This deep sense of togetherness has been the core vision that shaped the journey of Kerala and its eventual ascendance as an aspirational society that carries all sections of society together.
The Onam vibe has set in all its charm and grace not only in Kerala, but in all parts of the world where Malayalis live.
One cannot have a true feel of a place by looking at the map. To have a feel of a place,one should know its people, their life, listen to their songs, taste their food and join their festivals.
This is especially true of Kerala, blessed with unrivalled natural beauty and cultural diversity. When we introduce Kerala to others the emphasis is not just on the land’s panoramic charm alone but also the vibrancy of its cultural expressions— our festivals, art and craft traditions, cuisine and social harmony.
When we lay out a pookkalam (floral decoration) during Onam it also reflects our aesthetic sense, apart from the colour and fragrance of the flowers that go into its making. More than a sumptuous meal, the Onam Sadya conveys the sense of participation and sharing. Each rhythmic beat of the traditional drum ‘chenda’ brings home the nuance of our culture, preserved and passed through generations.
It is with this vision that this government is shaping its policies to give a big thrust to Cultural Tourism.
Celebrations at home apart, Onam has over the period evolved into a community festival. Cultural expressions linked to Onam have moved to community spaces, enhancing public participation and the sense of togetherness.
The Onam Tourism Week Celebrations, organised by the State Tourism Department, has been an annual feature in the state.
This year, the festival has been planned on a grander scale, showcasing the best of Kerala’s classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms. Besides the state capital, scores of venues across the state have already got decked up for the event.The festival offers opportunities to over 3000 artists representing various genres. The number of venues has gone up this year, covering places that had been left out in the previous years. This has enabled inclusion of more art forms and practitioners. Traditional and folk forms have received greater prominence in selection of programmes in this edition of the festival. This has ensured greater participation of local artists.
Along with established artists, youth participation has also been enhanced in the upcoming festival. This will certainly turn the festival more vibrant and participatory.
The festival is structured to make it livelier with interactive sessions, enabling the visitors and art lovers to engage themselves with performers and learn first-hand about an amazing range of cultural expressions sustained over generations.
The Onam trade fairs will pool an assortment of local products like handloom textiles, artifacts and souvenirs and a range of locally-grown organic farm products. The local cuisine will also be a highlight of the menu at food stalls. Besides treating the tourists and local holiday-makers, the local communities will benefit from the fair and enhance their participation in tourism activities.
In its totality, the festival promises an immersive experience for tourists. This aligns well with the State Government’s vision of leveraging the diversity of Kerala culture to promote tourism, in an inclusive and sustainable manner. The festival will be strictly following the Green Protocol. Agencies like Suchitwa Mission and local self-government institutions have been partnered to ensure that the festival is all green and clean, without leaving a trail of polluting material in its wake.
Onam is a season that witnesses a spurt in tourist arrivals to the state. This is also the season of boat races, making it an ideal time for visitors to experience Kerala in all its beauty and diversity.
The Tourism Department is working on plans to showcase Onam before a global audience by strengthening outreach initiatives. The Government’s decision to accord industry status to tourism sector will further strengthen Public-Private collaboration in this critical domain.
I wish each and every Malayalee a very happy Onam.
