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Onam: President, PM greet Keralites

         New Delhi: President Ms Pratibha Devisingh Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh have greeted the people on the occasion of Onam, a national festival of Kerala, which will be celebrated on Monday. Patil said: "May this harvest festival herald a new year of happiness and prosperity for the people and promote harmony and brotherhood in the country." The President also termed the auspicious festival as a symbol of unity and oneness of people belonging to various religions. Manmohan Singh in his message wished that the festival may bring peace, prosperity and happiness to all. "Onam, which heralds the beginning of the harvest season, gives us an opportunity to salute our farmers for their contributions to our economy," Singh said. Onam, a harvest festival, is celebrated in Kerala when young girls and women make flower patterns called 'Pookalam' in local parlance to welcome the mythical King Mahabali. Onam recalls the story of mythical demon king Mahabali who created a kingdom in what is now Kerala. The festival falls during the month of Chingam (August-September as per the Gregorian calendar), the first month of the Malayalam calendar and lasts for ten days. Traditionally celebrated as a harvest festival, mythologically it is linked to Malayalee-Hindu folk tales.
- August 26, 2007

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