Politics · India Bureau
Kerala celebrates Thiruvonam with traditional fervour across the globe
Top Indian leaders have extended greetings as Keralites worldwide mark the harvest festival with colourful flower carpets and elaborate feasts. The celebrations underscore the cultural significance of Onam, one of Kerala's most cherished annual observances.
LSN India ·
India's President Droupadi Murmu, Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan have all extended warm greetings to citizens marking Thiruvonam, the centrepiece of the ten-day Onam festival.
The festival, celebrated by Keralites across the country and diaspora communities worldwide, carries deep cultural and agricultural significance for the southern state. Thiruvonam, the fourth day of the festival, is marked by elaborate rituals and family gatherings that showcase Kerala's distinctive cultural heritage.
Traditional celebrations feature the creation of pookkalams—intricate flower carpets made with blooms in vibrant hues—adorning homes and public spaces. These artistic displays, along with classical dance performances and community festivities, form the backbone of the festival's observance.
The festival also brings families together for sumptuous feasts featuring Kerala's traditional cuisine, reinforcing the bonds of kinship and community. The widespread participation of Keralites living abroad reflects how the festival continues to hold significance for the state's diaspora, maintaining cultural connections across geographical boundaries.