Onam 2023: ‘Festival showcases vibrant culture of Kerala, inspires us to strengthen human unity’

President Droupadi Murmu also wished people in Kerala, saying that on this auspicious occasion, ‘we express our gratitude to the mother nature for the countless bounties’.

In a post on social media platform X, Rashtrapati Bhavan said, “Greetings to all fellow citizens and our brothers and sisters in Kerala on Onam! On this auspicious occasion we express our gratitude to Mother nature for the countless bounties. May this harvest festival usher in prosperity and the spirit of harmony among all.”

Even as the 10-day Onam celebrations in Kerala started with the Atham celebrations on August 20, the state’s Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in a post on X extended his greetings on the harvest festival today, saying that the festival is a “celebration of prosperity, brotherhood and equality.”  He added that the festival should “inspire us to strengthen human unity beyond caste and religious divisions.”

“Celebrations should be a gathering of minds that are not contaminated by divisive thoughts. Happy Onam with love to all,” the Kerala CM stated.

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Congress leader and Wayanad MP Rahul Gandhi also wished people on the “joyous occasion” of Onam. “May this beautiful festival strengthen the bonds of unity and bring happiness to all,” he said in a post on X.

Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin has greeted Keralaites on the occasion of Onam. Highlighting that the people of the state celebrated this festival with enthusiasm and unity, the Chief Minister noted the people of Kerala also rejoice the occasion in warmly welcoming “the Dravidian king Maveli, dethroned by deception.”  Drawing links between the festival and Tamil Nadu, he added that the ancient Tamil literary piece Maduraikkanchi of the Sangam literature has a reference to the festival. “The Dravidian culture cannot be separated. A section of people is attempting to snatch this identity by depicting the Onam festival as Vamana Jayanti. The people of Kerala will ignore such attempts,” the CM said in a statement.

Delhi Chief Minister also took to the social media platform X to wish everyome “a very happy Onam.”

Starting the countdown from Atham day, Onam reached its crescendo on Thiruvonam (on August 29 this year) even as the state of Kerala is overtaken by the festivities.

One of the most famous legends associated with Onam is the return of the benevolent Asura king Mahabali to visit his people every year. The story goes like this: In Mahabali’s kingdom, everyone was treated equal and all his subjects lived peacefully and prosperously. The Deva king Indra felt threatened by the aura of Mahabali and approached Lord Vishnu to put the king in his place. Lord Vishnu transformed into his fifth incarnation, a small Brahmin boy called Vamana, and approached Mahabali.

(With PTI inputs)

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