KOZHIKODE: Aiming to spread a strong message that Onam has nothing to do with a particular religion but it is a festival of people of Kerala, all Muslim educational institutions under Muslim Educational Society (MES) have charted out a detailed plan to celebrate Onam in the state.
The MES' decision to celebrate Onam comes at a time when certain Muslim scholars have been creating misconception that celebrating Onam is un-Islamic.Nearly 150 MES institutions in the state will celebrate Onam in a grand manner which will be attended by over a lakh people. MES general secretary P O J Lebba said the organisation will celebrate Onam this year in a big way to establish that it is one of the secular festivals of Malayalees living across the world. "We have been celebrating Onam in our institutions over the last few years and will continue with it. We want to put across a clear message against those who have been attempting to create communal tension," he added.There were war of words between Muslim organisations in the state over celebrating Onam when a few years ago Sunni Yuvajana Sanghom, a prominent Muslim religious organisation came forward with a statement that celebration of Onam was un-Islamic.
This year, apart from MES institutions, all district committees of the MES would also celebrate Onam. The MES state committee's celebrations will be inaugurated at MES Fathima Gafoor Memorial Women College, Nadakkavu, here on Sept 8.