Kerala gears up for Onam celebrations

TRIVANDRUM — Undeterred by the high price of essential commodities, people in Kerala have geared up to celebrate the harvest festival of Onam on Wednesday.
Markets on the Uthradam day on Tuesday were abuzz with activities with people cutting across caste and class lines scurrying to the shops to stock up everything needed to create an air of prosperity that Onam commemorates.
Grocery, vegetable and fruit markets witnessed heavy flow of shoppers on the eve of the Onam, when people usually buy the essential items for the traditional Onam feast. The fair price outlets opened by the government to check the price reported brisk sales.
Long queues were seen in front of the Kerala State Cooperative Consumers’ Federation or Consumerfed outlets that are selling the essential commodities with a rebate up to 52 per cent. The federation, which opened 6,032 outlets across the state, reported record sales this year.
The sales turnover of the Consumerfed Onam and Ramadan outlets, which started from July 6, crossed Rs2 billion two days before Onam. The outlets of other government market intervention agencies also recorded brisk sales.
The government intervention in the market did not affect sales in the open market, which wooed the customers by offering attractive discounts and several other incentives. Most textile and electronic shops surpassed their last year’s sales.
Suppliers of garments at Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu reported a 25 per cent increase in the intake from wholesalers in Kerala during Onam. A leading manufacturer said many units had to work overtime to meet Onam demands.
Jewellery shops also did good business despite the high price as Onam is not considered complete by many without gold.
The salaried class could afford to do their Onam shopping as the government and private companies disbursed bonus and festival allowance well in advance.
The government also took care of the people below the poverty line by distributing Onam kits, containing all the essential items required for the Onam feast. This year the government also took Onam to the migrant community by distributing the kits to them.
The main Onam festivities on Wednesday will start with people drawing the Onam pookkalam (flower carpet) in front of their houses. This will be followed by exchange of Onam gifts and the elaborate Onasadya.
Keralites working in other states in the country have been able to join their families for the festival with the railways operating special trains from major cities in the country. Many Keralites working in the Gulf countries could not make it home for Onam due to huge rush for air tickets.
However, various NRK organisations abroad and in other states in the country have organised elaborate programmes to celebrate Onam in its traditional splendour.
Governor H.R. Bharadwaj and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy have greeted Malayalees the world over during the festival.