Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala’s Public Works and Tourism Minister PA Mohamed Riyas said that Kerala Tourism will organize Onam celebrations virtually this time amid a spike in COVID-19 cases in the state. The virtual celebration of the Onam festival will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on August 14th. The tourism department has come up with the message of Viswa Manavikatha, Onam Pookkalam. It conveys that Malayali people should come together with their flower carpets for faith and brotherhood at a time when the whole world is suffering. "Events that introduce tourism destinations, art and culture, and food diversity will also be conducted with the help of visual media. Malayalees from all over the world can upload their Floral decoration on the Department of Tourism's digital platform. There will be special prizes for entries from Kerala and abroad. The registration facility on the website of the Department of Tourism will start on August 10," the minister said. The tourism department cordially invites the entire Diaspora Malayali community who had come forward to help Kerala during the floods to celebrate this Onam. The registration for the World Onam Pookkalam event on Kerala Tourism website will start on August 10.” Kerala Govt to distribute Rs 1,481.87 crore pension to 48 lakh poor ahead of Onam Kerala to conduct mass vaccination drive from today to this month end as Covid cases high Government tells states to stop using national flags made of plastic