THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The week-long Onam celebrations will commence on Kanakakkunnu Palace grounds in the state capital on Monday. As part of it, Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh hoisted the flag on Sunday, while Minister K Muraleedharan launched the illumination and MP Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the food festival.
Chief Minister V D Satheesan will officially inaugurate the festival, organised by the state tourism department, on Monday. “The festival will bring to limelight a range of Kerala’s traditional dance and art forms to a wider audience, especially tourists who visit the state during the Onam season.
The events will give an added thrust to the government’s efforts to attract more tourists to the state,” said Vishnunadh. Ministers K Muraleedharan and C P John, actor Kunchacko Boban, Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Mayor V V Rajesh and MP Shashi Tharoor will attend the event among others.
More than 3,000 artists will be part of the event to be held in 35 venues across the district. As part of the celebrations, Nishagandhi will host performances of the state’s traditional ritual art forms, including padayani, theyyam, thira and folklore fusion from 6pm to 7pm. The cultural procession concluding the week-long celebration will be flagged off by the Vice-President of India C P Radhakrishnan on August 31.