The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church authorities have said that the arrangements for the 1960th anniversary and the Catholicate centenary celebrations are complete.
Spiritual leader of Tibet Dalai Lama will inaugurate the function here on November 25. Former president of India A P J Abdul Kalam will be the main speaker and Chief Minister Oommen Chandy will publish the souvenir.
Catholicos Baselios Paulose II will preside over the function.
Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas, former Union Minister O Rajagopal, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan, CPM politburo member Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and Mayor Tony Chammany will attend the function.
“The construction of the venue at Marine Drive ground has been completed. Around 2.5 lakh people are expected to attend the event,” said Orthodox Church laity trustee M G George Muthoot at a press conference. Gate I at the venue is for the entry of chief guests, metropolitans, and other VIP invitees.
Gate II is reserved for priests, managing committee members and invited guests, while Gates III, IV are for the public. Cultural programmes, including music and dance, will be performed at the venue as a prelude to the function.
“A volunteer team of around 2,000 members, including ladies, will help control the crowd inside and outside the pavilion,” he said. The people coming from Kozhikode, Thrissur and Aluva should take diversion to the Container Road at Kalamassery and park vehicles near the Goshree Bridge.
Vehicles coming via NH 17 should also take the Container Road and park near the Goshree bridge.
Vehicles from the southern districts which reach before 2 pm should proceed to the International Stadium at Kaloor for parking. There will be help desks at 11 locations, including Vyttila , Kalamassery, Edappally, Goshree Bridge.