Kerala's Preparations for Onam Festival: Key Initiatives Announced

Kerala is gearing up for the Onam festival with significant preparations announced by Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob. The state will ensure the availability of essential goods at affordable prices through various initiatives, including free ration kits and special rice distribution. The distribution of free rations for new beneficiaries is set to begin on August 3, with a record number of new priority ration cards approved. Additionally, the government has allocated funds for the distribution of Onam kits and will host mega trade fairs across several districts. This year's Thiruvonam celebration is scheduled for August 26, promising a festive atmosphere across the state.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jul 27, 2026, 16:04 IST

Final Preparations for Onam Festival in Kerala

Thiruvananthapuram, July 27 - Anoop Jacob, the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies in Kerala, announced on Monday that the department and the supply corporation have completed the final phase of preparations for the Onam harvest festival. He stated that to ensure the availability of essential goods at affordable prices during the festival, initiatives such as free kit distribution, special rice allocation, market intervention measures, and fairs will be organized.

During a 'Meet the Press' event, Jacob highlighted that under the state's 100-day program, the department has approved a record 73,024 new priority ration cards from 76,338 online applications.

He mentioned that the distribution of free rations for new beneficiaries will commence on August 3, with Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan inaugurating the event. The minister noted that 1,353 applications were returned due to missing documents, while 2,011 were rejected. Additionally, the government has provided local bodies with a ward-wise list to identify potential beneficiaries.

Regarding Onam preparations, Jacob revealed that the government has arranged for 165,932 metric tons of rice and 24,506 metric tons of wheat. Special rice distribution for non-priority (blue card) ration cardholders will begin next month, offering three kilograms of rice at ₹10.90 per kilogram and two kilograms of wheat at ₹8.70 per kilogram.

Furthermore, the government has allocated ₹53 crore to distribute 609,305 free Onam kits to beneficiaries of the Antyodaya Anna Yojana (yellow card) and individuals residing in welfare institutions. The estimated value of this kit, which contains sixteen items, is ₹854. Distribution will start on August 10 and conclude by August 25.

As part of market intervention, the supply corporation will host the 'Onam Mega Trade Fair' in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, and Kozhikode from August 8 to 25. Additionally, district-level fairs will be organized in 11 districts, and Onam markets will be set up in 126 assembly constituencies. This year, Thiruvonam will be celebrated on August 26.