Thiruvonam, in fullness of love

If we were to wait until all sorrows had ended before celebrating, such a day would never come. That is why our ancestors placed festive days and days of celebration here and there in the garland of a year, like gems strung into it. Every religion has its own days of joy, celebrated on occasions such as the birthdays of prophets. But Onam in Kerala is not like that. Celebrated by Malayalees wherever they are, regardless of caste or religion, this auspicious occasion is also a great reminder of abundance and equality. While holding fast to its traditional legends, Onam 2026 also carries the new signs of modernity and digital change. Today, Malayalees around the world are celebrating Thiruvonam with the abundance of Onam feasts.

The Onam rush had begun in the streets a week earlier. Towns and cities were filled with activity as people stepped out with their families to buy provisions for the feast, Onam clothes and other essentials. The biggest crowds were seen in Onam markets and clothing stores. AI-designed Onam clothes, virtual floral carpets on social media, digital Onam songs and varied Onam greetings on WhatsApp have given this year's celebrations a modern, digital face as well. If there is any question about what the greatest concept in the world has been since the dawn of humankind, no answer would be more fitting than "equality". It is the vision of a world where all human beings live as equals that has enabled the glory of Onam to shine undiminished through the ages.

Against the backdrop of natural disasters and the struggles of survival, Onam brings new hope and love to a Kerala that has stood together through its crises and now comes together in celebration. Even if Mahabali and Vamana are regarded merely as symbols, the waves of joy awakened in people's minds by the thought that there was once a time without even a grain of falsehood are boundless. The religiously transcendent character of Onam is evident in the government itself taking the initiative to light decorative lamps and organise festive programmes. This is a time when people rise above considerations of caste, religion and politics and join hands with one another, demonstrating the strength of bonds of the heart.

Malayali associations across the diaspora, too, are celebrating Onam in different corners of the world without allowing this distinctive character to fade, dreaming of a better tomorrow filled with goodness. The economic energy that the Onam season brings to sectors such as feast preparations, flowers, clothing, household appliances, tourism and agricultural products is by no means insignificant. Onam also becomes an occasion for the flow of money to reach people through many different channels. As Onam, a celebration that recalls days of mutual love and goodness, stands in its fullness and splendour, Kerala Kaumudi extends its heartfelt Thiruvonam greetings to all its readers.