Onam season witnesses a spurt in tourist arrivals to the State, said P.C Vishnunadh, Minister for Tourism and Culture. This season, characterised by the boat races, pookkalam, and sadyas, presents an opportune moment for visitors to immerse themselves in the rich beauty and diversity of Keralam, he added.
The Tourism department is planning to showcase Onam globally through enhanced outreach initiatives. The government’s decision to grant industry status to tourism will boost Public-Private collaboration in this vital sector.
Be it is pookkalam (floral decoration) or the sumptuous Onam sadya (meal), it conveys the sense of participation and sharing. Cultural expressions linked to Onam have moved to community spaces, enhancing public participation and the sense of togetherness. It is with this vision that the government is shaping its policies to give a big thrust to cultural tourism, he said.
Emphasising this, the annual Onam Tourism Week celebrations, organised by the State Tourism department, have been planned this year on a grander scale, showcasing the best of Keralam’s classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms. Besides the State capital, scores of venues across the State have already been decked up for the event. The festival will offer opportunities to over 3,000 artistes representing various genres. Traditional and folk forms have received greater prominence in the selection of programmes in this edition of the festival, said the Minister in the statement.
Meanwhile, an Onam flag procession, heralding the Onam Tourism Week celebrations, got under way from Kovalam in Thiruvananthapuram to make its way to all Assembly constituencies of the district. The flag procession will pass through all the constituencies in the State capital before concluding at Kanakakkunnu Palace on August 23. Mr. Vishnunadh will hoist the Onam flag, marking the start of this year’s Onam celebrations. Onam Tourism Week celebrations will commence at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds here on August 24.
Published - August 21, 2026 08:07 pm IST