Keralites’ to-do list during Onam now features leisure travel too

During the Onam festival, Keralites are embracing the opportunity for leisure travel, with Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) capitalizing on the trend. Preetha Cheerambathel, 56, experienced the Vallasadya, a grand ritual feast associated with Onam, after the KSRTC package resumed operating trips to five temples linked to the mythical Pandavas across Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts.

The budget pilgrimage package saw a 50% increase in trips this year, with 200 already operated in a span of a month. Overseas packages too are witnessing soaring demand, with Vietnam emerging as the new favorite destination, overtaking the traditional choices of Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. The festival's reputation as a safe destination for women, coupled with its growing appeal on social media, has contributed to the surge in demand.

However, not all travelers are taking advantage of Onam. Amina, a woman's tour organizer, had to cancel her plans due to the soaring airfares caused by the war in West Asia, which forced her to rebook at inflated rates.