Trivandrum: Kerala Government will organise the Onam Week celebrations on a grand scale from August 27 to September 2, Minister for Public Works & Tourism, Shri PA Mohamed Riyas announced today. Chief Minister, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the state-level celebrations at Nishagandhi open-air auditorium in Thiruvananthapuram on August 27 at 6 pm.
The brochure of Onam celebrations was unveiled on the occasion in the presence of General Education Minister, Shri V Sivankutty, who is the chief organiser of the event.
Noted danseuse Mallika Sarabhai and actor Fahadh Faasil will be the chief guests at the function. The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a Panchavadyam performance by students of Peringode School, Pattambi and a dance performance by artistes of Kerala Kalamandalam.
The week-long celebrations will conclude with colourful pageantry from Vellayambalam to the East Fort in the city on September 2. Governor Shri Arif Mohammed Khan will flag off the Onam procession at Manaveeyam Veedhi.
Shri Riyas said the government was this time introducing the harvest festival with ‘Onam Symphony of Harmony’ as the theme, showcasing the secularism of Keralites before the world. “Tourism Clubs in various countries will disseminate the concept of Onam widely,” he added.
Around 8,000 artistes, including of the indigenous genres, will present various art forms in 30 venues in the state capital alone. The Department of Tourism will do illumination this year at Kanakakunnu Palace, where a laser show will also be conducted.
Like every year, illumination will be done from Kowdiar to Manacaud in the city and it will be extended to Sasthamangalam area also. The Minister said apart from various programmes, trade and food festivals will be held in various parts of the city. Media organisations have been allotted Central Stadium near Statue and Police Ground at Thycaud for conducting programmes.
He informed that special seating arrangements will be there for tourists and new projects will be conceived for bringing more tourists during Onam in future. Tourism club members will be deployed as volunteers for the smooth conduct of the celebrations, he added.