Chennai: Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister K Palaniswami, Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam, opposition DMK president M K Stalin and leaders of various political parties greeted the Malayalees on the eve of Onam festival.
In his greetings, Purohit said, “on the joyous and auspicious occasion of Onam, I extend my heartiest greetings and best wishes to the Malayalee brothersand sisters in Tamilnadu and across the globe.”
‘Onam’ marks the rich Harvest and revisit of King Mahabali who was known for his devotion, bravery, love and generosity, he said, according to a Raj Bhavan communique.
“The harvest festival reminds us to shed away all our differences and to work with commitment for progress”, Purohit said. “Let us on this happy occasion of Onam resolve to dedicate ourselves to promote love, compassion and work towards our Nation’s progress and prosperity”, he added.
“May this festival bring peace, prosperity, harmony and good health in our lives”, the Governor said. In his greetings, Palaniswami said Onam was celebrated to welcome King Mahabali, who according to legend, visits Kerala once a year.
He said Lord Vishnu in the avatar of ‘Vamanan’ approached King Mahabali and asked for ‘three paces of land.’ Vamanan covered the earth and the sky in just two paces and for the third pace, Maveli offered his head for Vishnu to step on, an act that Vishnu accepted as evidence of his devotion.
Vishnu granted him a boon, by which Maveli could visit again, once every year, the lands and people he previously ruled. This revisit marks the festival of Onam., he added.
Wishing the Malayalees joy, peace and prosperity on the occasion, Palaniswami said Malayalees celebrate the Onam festival Without any differences like caste or religion, stressing the importance for brotherhood and
an egalitarian society.
Panneerselvam, in a tweet, said let the Onam festival usher in love and peace and bring prosperity and wealth and extended his greetings to the Malayalam-speaking people of the State.
Stalin, in his greetings said, the festival signified welcoming King Mahabali by the people of Kerala with folded hands.
Stating that the festival signified equality, brotherhood and harmony, he said by respecting the sentiments of Keralites living in Tamilnadu, the then CM M Karunanidhi declared a holiday for the festival in bordering districs of Nagercoil, Coimbatore and the Nilgiris in 2006 and also declared local holiday for Chennai in 2007 following the request from various Malayalee associations.
PMK founder leader S Ramadoss, his son and former Union Minister Anbumani Ramadoss, TMC president and former Union Minister G K Vasan, AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran and leaders of various parties also greeted the Keralites on the occasion of Onam.