Today is the auspicious day when Malayalees all over the world celebrate Thiruvonam. Every Onam season brings good moments of togetherness, bonding and joy. Malayalee always wants to celebrate Onam by forgetting all the limitations and difficulties for the time being. Though the sorrow of Wayanad is at the bottom of our hearts, we are keeping that aside to celebrate Onam this year as well. This Onam celebration also conveys the message that the human race is happily moving forward with life keeping in mind the new dawns and new expectations.

The legend of Onam is the memories of the good governance of the old days when all human beings were equal and happy. Onapattu says that there was no lying or deceit during Mahabali's time. Today, there are no days when there is no news related to such things. The fact that the majority of the people in our society are living with dignity and pride without getting involved in any of this even then, will be a relief for Mahabali, who is supposed to visit Kerala at Thiruvonappulari.

In the olden days, Onam was also a harvest festival in the month of Chingam. Today, Malayalees celebrate Onam by cooking rice and vegetables that come from other states. It is a time when even the banana leaf is imported. While a complete retreat from this is impossible, there has to be a people's effort to convert our wastelands into farms. It is also imperative that a culture of farming is inculcated in the cooperation of political parties, community organisations and other cultural and social organisations. The Department of Agriculture, which recently became eligible for large World Bank assistance, can also be expected to play a crucial role in developing high-tech farming with the help of new-age technology. Non-toxic food should become one of our rights.

Onam days are also the days of the bumper sales when sales of the largest number of home appliances and other goods happen in Kerala. Traders are offering extensive discounts. Forty per cent of the total sales in a year in the garment market happen during the Onam season. Since it is also the season of weddings, there is good sales in gold shops and even auto showrooms. The surge in the sale of fruits, vegetables, flowers, groceries, sweets, etc., will be a boon for thousands of people associated with those areas. The government decided to hold onam celebrations even if it is in a limited manner considering that it is also a season where business worth crores of rupees takes place.

It is commendable that this time there have been proper interventions on the part of the state civil supplies department to prevent the prices of groceries and vegetables from rising exponentially and to make essential commodities available at reasonable prices.

Many employees in the government sector have to remain on duty during Onam, unable to have lunch with their families. Police, transport, KSEB, waterworks, fire brigade, hospital and many other essential sector employees may not be able to enjoy Onam like others. This is an opportunity to remember them with gratitude. Other state workers are also not far behind us in onam celebrations.
It must be assumed that the love, tenderness and goodness of Malayalees do not diminish after every Onam. This is because whenever there is a big calamity, be it a flood or a landslide, Malayalees forget all religions and become human beings to wipe the tears of the victims.

Kerala Kaumudi family's Thiruvonam greetings to all Malayalees, especially all our esteemed subscribers. May each Onam open up new paths to goodness.