Keralam Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan extended greetings to people on the occasion of Onam on Wednesday, describing the harvest festival as a symbol of love, equality and unity that transcends barriers of caste and religion.

In his message, Satheesan said Onam carries a broader social message and continues to bring people together beyond differences of caste, religion and other identities. He emphasised the festival's values of harmony, equality and collective celebration.

“Onam is a festival that transcends caste and religion and conveys the message of love, equality and unity,” Satheesan said in his greetings.

Onam Celebrated Across Keralam

Onam is one of the most significant festivals of Keralam and is traditionally associated with the annual harvest season and the legend of King Mahabali. The festival is marked by family gatherings, traditional feasts, cultural programmes and community celebrations across the state.

The festival also has a strong cultural significance for Malayali communities living outside Keralam, with celebrations taking place in different parts of India and abroad.

Satheesan's message highlighted the inclusive character of the festival at a time when communities come together to celebrate Onam.

Message of Equality and Harmony

The Chief Minister's greetings focused on the values traditionally associated with Onam, particularly equality and social harmony. The festival is often linked to the popular belief that King Mahabali's reign represented a period of prosperity and equality.

The Onam celebrations therefore extend beyond religious observances, with people from different communities participating in cultural and social events associated with the festival.

Harvest Festival's Cultural Significance

Onam is celebrated over several days, with different traditions and events forming part of the festivities. Homes are decorated with pookkalam, or floral arrangements, while the traditional Onam feast, known as Onasadya, remains an important part of celebrations.

Traditional games, cultural performances and boat races are also closely associated with the festival in different parts of Keralam.

The festival's connection with agriculture and the harvest season gives it an important place in the state's cultural calendar.

Greetings Amid Festive Celebrations

As people across Keralam celebrate Onam, the Chief Minister's message placed emphasis on maintaining the spirit of togetherness associated with the occasion.

The greeting also underlined the festival's ability to bring people together irrespective of social and religious differences.

Onam 2026 is being observed on Wednesday, August 26, with celebrations taking place across Keralam and among Malayali communities in different parts of the country.

Kerala Renamed Keralam: Cabinet Approves Historic Name Change Rooted in 2,000-Year-Old Legacy

In a move that bridges contemporary politics with ancient heritage, the Union Cabinet has approved the proposal to officially rename the state of Kerala to Keralam. The decision, announced just 22 minutes ago, paves the way for a constitutional amendment that will change the state’s nomenclature in official records, aligning it with the Malayali linguistic identity that dates back over two millennia.

The approval comes at a crucial political juncture, as the state prepares for its Legislative Assembly elections, scheduled before May. While the Election Commission has yet to finalize the dates, the renaming bill is expected to be a defining narrative in the upcoming polls.

A Bipartisan Push for ‘Keralam’

The movement to rename the state has enjoyed rare political unanimity in Kerala’s often fractious political landscape. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who originally tabled the unanimous resolution in the state Assembly, hailed the Cabinet’s decision as a validation of the region's cultural soul.

“The name ‘Keralam’ is not a new coinage; it is the name we have always used in Malayalam. It reflects the history of our people and the movement for a unified Malayalam-speaking state during the freedom struggle,” Vijayan had previously stated while advocating for the change.

The resolution was passed by the Assembly for a second time on June 25, 2024, after the Union Home Ministry suggested technical modifications to ensure the proposal complied with constitutional protocols. The cross-party support was further emphasized by BJP leader Rajeev Chandrashekhar, who remarked, "Calling our state Keralam will be appropriate... Every Malayali wants change and wants to set aside politics of lies and fake promises and bring in politics of performance."

Why ‘Keralam’? The 2,000-Year-Old Roots

While the anglicized name "Kerala" has been used officially in English for decades, the linguistic history of the region tells a deeper story. The name Keralam is deeply embedded in Malayalam literature, folklore, and Sangam-era texts.

Historians trace the name to geographical and mythological origins. One popular theory links it to the phrase "Cheran Alum" (land of the Chera dynasty), while another suggests it derives from "Kera" (coconut tree), a plant synonymous with the region’s landscape. The use of "Keralam" in native discourse symbolizes a connection to the Dravidian linguistic pride that predates British colonial rule, where "Kerala" became the standard in English documentation.

The Formation of Kerala: From Princely States to Linguistic Unity

To understand the weight of this name change, one must look at the bloody history of the state's formation. Modern Kerala was born on July 1, 1949, with the merger of the princely states of Travancore and Cochin, forming the Travancore-Cochin state.

However, the true linguistic reorganization came with the States Reorganisation Commission (SRC) in 1956. Chaired by Syed Fazl Ali, the commission recommended the creation of a unified Malayalam-speaking state. This led to the inclusion of the Malabar district and Kasargod taluk into the new state. Conversely, to maintain linguistic homogeneity, four southern taluks of Travancore (Thovala, Agastheeswaram, Kalkulam, and Vilavancode) along with parts of Shenkottai were transferred to the neighboring Madras State (now Tamil Nadu).

What Happens Next?

Currently, the state is listed as "Kerala" in the First Schedule of the Indian Constitution. With the Cabinet’s approval, the state Assembly’s request to amend the name under Article 3 of the Constitution will now move forward. The amendment will ensure that ‘Keralam’ is reflected in all official languages listed in the 8th Schedule.

The Cabinet Meeting Location: In a piece of administrative trivia, today’s historic decision was taken during the first Cabinet meeting held at Seva Teerth, the new official office of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The previous meeting was held on February 13 at the Prime Minister’s Office in South Block.

As Kerala stands on the cusp of shedding a colonial legacy to embrace its ancient identity, the renaming to Keralam serves as a powerful reminder of the deep linguistic roots that define the Indian states.