By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : The outbreak of chikunguniya and other viral fevers across Kerala has dampened the spirit of the Onam festival this year with thousands of people still suffering in many parts of the state.
Onam, one of the most important festivals of the state, begins Sunday and will continue till Wednesday. All educational institutions and government offices will remain closed during these days.
Chikunguniya, dengue, leptospirosis and other fevers have already claimed 550 lives in the state this year. These diseases have affected about 1.5 million people.
“This Onam is not as cheerful as the previous ones because practically every household in our village in Kottayam district has one or more persons suffering from the after effects of chikunguniya. Many are still limping though the fever has disappeared,” Kurian John, a villager in Kottayam, told IANS.
A rubber trader from Idukki district said: “The outbreak of fevers is a major reason. Besides that, the price of rubber has also fallen this year. Two months of monsoon had left us poorer.”
“Neither I nor my wife is keeping well but like every Onam, we will clean our home. This time, it is special because for the first time in a few years all my three children are arriving from abroad,” said 67-year-old Jacob John, a retired professor in Ernakulam.
The state government is doing its bit to cheer up the people. It launched statewide Onam celebrations here Friday night. Various programmes will be held in the 13 district headquarters to celebrate the festival.
“Floods and fevers might have diminished the sparkle of the moment but the festival should be seen as a way to come out of all calamities,” Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan said.
Despite the spirit of the people being comparatively sombre this year, many were seen visiting electronics shops to purchase various appliances.
Most hotels and eateries are also ready for the festival with special Onam lunch packages. Served on a plantain leaf, one can get a sumptuous Onam lunch for Rs.25 to Rs.250.
Traditionally, the Onam lunch is a vegetarian meal, which includes nearly 26 dishes of various types along with mouth-watering payasams.
The Kerala State Beverages Corporation (KSBC) has also stacked its godowns with liquor and beer worth more than Rs.1 billion.
“In the five days of the harvest festival last year, the total sales were above Rs.700 million. This year we expect it to go up by a record 18 percent,” said a KSBC spokesperson.
Another major highlight of this festival is the ‘pookalam’, a carpet made of flowers. There are specifications about the type of flowers to be used on each day of the festival.
A jewellery shop in Kochi has already caught the attention of many by making a ‘pookalam’ using gold ornaments, instead of flowers.
Onam is celebrated in the memory of King Mahabali. According to legend, Mahabali ruled Kerala and looked after the welfare of the people. It is believed that during Onam, the king returns to Kerala to pay a visit to his people.