KOCHI: The Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), along with its partners, will organise the first ‘Theruvulsavam’ (Street Festival)in Kochi on Sunday.
The celebrations will be held from High Court Junction to Taj Gateway Hotel, for which the western side of Shanmugham road will be blocked between 6.30 am and 10.30 am, leaving the other side of the road open for public transportation. The event will be inaugurated by District Collector M G Rajamanickam at a function here on Sunday, at which actor Nivin Pauly will be the Guest of Honour.
The event titled ‘Raahgiri’ is held periodically in many other Indian cities, like Gurgaon, Bhubaneshwar and a, to create awareness among the public on the importance of public transport, particularly on non-motorised transport means like cycling and walking. Raahgiri also aims at ‘reclaiming’ the streets for the people. Another theme of Theruvulsavam-Kochi’ is to encourage citizens to exercise their vote.
The event will be marked by various activities. The district administration will bring in a ‘Vote Vandi’ that would function as a mock polling booth where people will be able to exercise their ‘mock vote.’
The KURTC will conduct special services for the participants from various places, including Aluva, Paravur, Kakkanad, Fort Kochi and Tripunithura, from 5.30 am onwards. Kerala Blasters manager Terry Phelan will organise a dribbling session, which will be followed by a football match under his guidance. There will also be a session for kids to learn how to make kites and fly them. Artists of the Kochi Biennale Foundation will add colour to the event with their graffiti works.
In addition, there will be a performance by ‘Peppy Tunes’. Joby Chacko, who has drawn one lakh caricatures, will draw caricatures of the participants.
Decathlon will provide products like bicycles, skates, skateboards and scooters to participants of Theruvulsavam for trial.
The Kudumbashree will make arrangements for refreshments such as ‘sambharam,’ lime juice and ‘chukku kappi’ for the participants.