KERALA TOURISM ANNOUNCES ONAM WEEK CELEBRATIONS
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At a press conference held recently, Suman Billa, Tourism Secretary, Kerala, along with P I Sheik Pareeth, Director, Kerala Tourism; T V Anupama, Additional Director (General), Kerala Tourism; and Balu Kiriyath, Organising Committee Vice Chairman announced the start of Onam Week, to be organised from 5-11 September by the State Tourism department.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will inaugurate the state-level celebrations in the capital which will host the programmes in as many as 29 venues in and around the city, including the banks of Vellayani Lake, Tourism Minister A P Anil Kumar announced at a press meet.
More than 50 folk art form from the Malabar region, such as ‘Velakali’, ‘Parayanthullal’, ‘Theyyam’ and ‘Poothanum Thirayum’ will be among the main attractions of the Onam celebrations this year, said the organising committee chairman Shri Palode Ravi MLA.
The other programmes include magic and comedy shows (Sathyan Memorial Hall), Kathaprasangam (Gandhi Park), Kalaripayattu (Museum), Kathakali, Patakam, Akshrashlokam and Koothu (Theerthapada Mandapam) besides folk arts in Sopanam, Sooryakanthi Mini Stage, Thiruvarangu and Nattarangu.
A colourful procession will march through the city on Thursday as a prelude to the Onam celebrations. MLA V Sivankutty will flag off the procession which will feature ‘Pulikali’ by 50 artists from Thrissur, from near the Sports Council. Nearly 1,000 sportspersons will take part in the march.
Once the procession reaches Kanakakunnu Palace, Health Minister V S Sivakumar will switch on the city illumination and Anil Kumar will unfurl the Onam ‘flag’.