THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Onam mood has gripped the city with various organisations holding celebrations before the holidays. Schools, colleges, offices, auditoriums and museums are bustling with functions where participants come clad in traditional attires. At night the road from Kowdiar-Manacuad road sparkles illuminated with ornamental lights, accentuating the festive flavour. Eateries in the city are competing with each other and are coming up Onam feast with a twist.
Corporation held its Onam celebration at Kazhakoottam and it was attended by Minister for Tourism, Cooperation and Devaswom Kadakampally Surendran and singer G Venugopal. Mayor V K Prashant and Deputy Mayor Rakhi Revi Kumar were present. Celebrations were held corporation employees at the main office on Thursday.
Socio-Cultural and Welfare Organisation of IT Employees, Prathidhwani, celebrated Onam 2017 with a ‘Rice Bucket Challenge’. The IT employees participated in the challenge and deposited a minimum of 5 kg rice packets in the buckets which were placed at the main buildings in Technopark. Around 1,200 5 kg rice packets, more than 6 tonnes, were collected by Prathidhwani from IT employees through this campaign. Kadakampally Surendran inaugurated Prathidhwani’s Rice packet distribution by distributing the bags to non-IT employees of the Technopark on Friday.
On Saturday ‘athappookkalam’ (floral pattern) competition will be held at Government College for Women and thiruvathira competition will be held at Bharat Bhavan. The Onam flag was hoisted at the Kanakakunnu palace, the main venue of the celebraitons, on September 1 by Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
The grand onam celebration by the Tourism Department begins on September 3 with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurating it at Nishagnadhi Auditorium. The star studded event will have actor Mammootty as the chief guest. Manju Warrier, Vijay Yesudas and Vidhu Pratap will perform. Besides Kanakakunnu grounds, Kazhakkoottam and Akkulam Tourist Village have been added to the list of festive venues.