Onam is widely celebrated not only in Kerala but across India as well as the Gulf, where a large number of people from Kerala are employed. This year, the 10-day celebrations began from August 25 and will end on September 6. Onam is a festival that is known to celebrate harvest and people from all walks of life come together to celebrate it with great pomp and joy. According to the Mahabali legend in Hindu mythology, the spirit of King Mahabali visits Kerala during the period and the celebrations take place in order to welcome him.
According to reports, the sale of liquor during the festival in the state this year has been pegged to be around Rs 440.60 crore, a rise from the previous year’s figures of Rs 411.14 crore. Liquor and beer sales on Sunday were reported to be around Rs 71.17 crores, which is an increase by Rs 59.51 crore from last year. Recently, the Kerala government decided to de-notify state highways in urban areas of the state. The decision by the Pinarayi Vijayan regime would help open bars that came closing down due to the Supreme Court order prohibiting bars from operating within 500 metres of the state or national highways.
It is expected that 70 three-star hotels along with 150 beer and wine outlets are likely to open in Kerala in the upcoming days. According to the state government data, shutting of bars had incurred a loss of Rs 1,000 crore to the state exchequer in the previous financial year. The previous Oommen Chandy government had introduced a partial prohibition, allowing only 5-star hotels and government-run shops to sell hard liquor.
Also read: Women may soon serve liquor in Kerala’s bar and wine parlour
Before the partial prohibition policy, Kerala was ranked as the state with highest liquor consumption.
Source: News18
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