The LSGD launched the state-wide initiative Green Onam in an ambitious bid to blend festive fervour with eco-conscious action.
Published Aug 06, 2025 | 10:06 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 06, 2025 | 10:06 AM
Onam. (Kerala Tourism)
Synopsis: The Kerala government has called on people to celebrate this Onam responsibly. It urged citizens to ensure a waste-free, plastic-free ‘Green Onam’, making it a true celebration of prosperity and cleanliness.
Onam, Kerala’s beloved harvest festival that transcends caste, religion, boundaries, and social status, is less than a month away. However, this year, the state government has issued a new kind of call to its people — not just to celebrate, but to do so responsibly.
The Local Self-Government Department (LSGD) has launched a bold new initiative, urging citizens to ensure a waste-free, plastic-free ‘Green Onam’, making it a true celebration of prosperity and cleanliness.
As Onam itself conveys a message of unity and togetherness, officials believe the goal is well within reach, especially with the active involvement of local self-government institutions, community groups, traders, and households.
A giant Onapookalam in front of Vadakkumnatha Temple in Thrissur. (Kerala Tourism)
The LSGD launched the state-wide initiative Green Onam in an ambitious bid to blend festive fervour with eco-conscious action.
With the tagline “Vrittyude Chakravarthy Mahabali” (Mahabali, the King of cleanliness), the campaign seeks to turn the spirit of Onam into a celebration of cleanliness, community action, and environmental awareness.
Onam celebrates the annual homecoming of the legendary King Mahabali, whose reign is remembered as a golden era of justice and prosperity. The festival marks his return to visit his people, reminding everyone of equality, abundance, and unity.
Local self-government institutions (LSGIs) across Kerala have been entrusted with the task of ensuring that public spaces remain clean, commercial activity remains eco-friendly, and banned plastic products stay out of the picture.
From marketplaces to offices, and festive venues to households, every corner of Kerala is expected to echo the call for a cleaner Onam.
The Green Onam initiative starts with the basics: Cleanliness. All local bodies are directed to remove accumulated waste, spruce up marketplaces, and beautify public spaces.
Flower decorations and pookkalams (floral carpets, a signature of Onam) will symbolise not just prosperity but also environmental commitment.
The Haritha Karma Sena, Kerala’s pioneering green brigade, will play a central role in increased doorstep waste collection, conducted two to three times in August and September.
Further, one of the sharpest pivots this year is the crackdown on banned plastic products. From commercial establishments to Onam celebrations in offices, strict legal measures have been proposed against the use of plastic cups, plates, and spoons.
Enforcement squads and special vigilance teams will make surprise visits to ensure compliance, while traders and vendors are being engaged in dialogue through special meetings convened by local bodies.
Temporary roadside vendors selling flowers, vegetables, or festive goods must also fall in line. They will be required to manage their waste responsibly, with costs shared by traders themselves.
Resident associations, libraries, youth groups, and arts and sports clubs are encouraged to play an active role by organising post-event clean-up drives, avoiding plastic, and promoting alternative products like steel cups and cloth bags.
Pulikali. (Kerala Tourism)
Creativity is at the heart of Green Onam.
Local bodies will run contests such as “My Home is Waste-Free” and host reel-making, writing, and speech competitions around the themes of sustainability and cleanliness.
Swap shops — where unused items can be exchanged — will be set up at local intersections and Onam celebration hubs.
To boost participation, local bodies will reward the best-performing commercial establishments, resident associations, and institutions with Green Onam Awards.
District-level awards will also be announced for local bodies that best implement the initiative.
By integrating festivities with eco-consciousness, the Green Onam campaign aims to deepen public understanding of sustainable living.
Through wide publicity, social media campaigns, and community involvement, the initiative envisions Mahabali returning this year to a Kerala that is not just prosperous, but also green, clean and conscious.
This Onam, LSGD officials say, Kerala is not just welcoming Mahabali — it’s also welcoming a cleaner tomorrow.
The Kerala government will host the State-level Onam festivities from 3 to 9 September in Thiruvananthapuram, concluding with a vibrant pageantry on 9 September. District-level celebrations will also be held under the aegis of the District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPC).
In July, at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, it was decided that all departments would work in coordination to ensure a colourful and eco-friendly celebration.
The stretch from Kowdiar to Manacaud in the capital city of Thiruvananthapuram will be designated a festive zone, and all events will comply with green protocol guidelines.
Kudumbashree will lead Onam fairs across the community and area development societies, with additional district-level fairs to follow. Vegetables and flowers cultivated under Kudumbashree will be harvested before Onam.
Cultural events will be organised in collaboration with cultural institutions, and even fishing vessels may be included to attract public participation.
The Tourism Department noted that the event has grown into Kerala’s most prominent cultural celebration, drawing both locals and tourists each year.
Onam Sadya. (Kerala Tourism)
The state government has also launched a series of market intervention initiatives to ease the festive season burden on households.
Supplyco will organise 10-day mega Onam fairs in all districts from 26 August and five-day fairs in all 140 Assembly constituencies from August 25.
Mobile markets will deliver essential goods to remote areas. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level fair at Putharikandam Maidanam in Thiruvananthapuram on 25 August.
Over six lakh Onam kits, each with 15 essential items in cloth bags, will be distributed to AAY ration cardholders and welfare institutions between 18 August and 2 September.
Prices of key commodities have been reduced, and new Sabari brand products will hit the markets on 18 August. Officials also stated that amid rising coconut oil prices, Supplyco has finalised new tenders to ensure continued supply at affordable rates.
The state-run agency will now distribute Sabari brand coconut oil at both subsidised and non-subsidised prices — ₹349 per litre and ₹179 for 500 ml under subsidy, and ₹429 per litre and ₹219 for 500 ml without it.
Other branded coconut oils will also be available at rates lower than their maximum retail prices. Additionally, Supplyco outlets will continue to stock sunflower oil, palm oil, and rice bran oil to meet consumer demand. Supplyco aims to surpass last year’s ₹183 crore Onam sales, targeting ₹250 crore this season.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
