Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28 (Representative) The grand Onam cultural festival planned by Kerala Tourism Department is all set to enliven the entire state for the next seven days with the state capital and district centers reverberating with classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms in scores of venues, based on the core theme ’Onam the symphony of harmony’. The flagship festival, featuring hundreds of artistes, is jointly organised by the Tourism Department, District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs) and district administrations. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the festival at Nishagandhi Auditorium in the state capital on Sunday at 6 pm, setting the stage for the curtains to go up in all districts.Inviting people to come out and enjoy the rich cultural feast awaiting them, Tourism Minister P A Mohamed Riyas said “Onam is a unique festival that invokes and celebrates the ideals of unity and inclusivity, and befittingly the central theme of the event this year is Onam, the symphony of harmony.” A flagship event of Kerala Tourism, the festival also offers a big opportunity for hundreds of artists of diverse genres to perform before a wide audience, including tourists, Riyas added.
The last-minute preparations are on in district headquarters and other centers to host the festival in tastefully decked up venues, highlighting the cultural and historic features of each place.In Ernakulam, Minister for Law, Industries & Coir P Rajeeve will open the celebrations – ‘Lavanyam 2023’ Sunday evening at Durbar Hall Ground. Programmes have been planned in as many as 15 venues including Open-air theatre at Durbar Hall, Kaloor Vyloppilly Park, Vypin, Fort Kochi Veli Ground, Kolenchery, Muvattupuzha Town Hall, and Perumbavoor Town Hall.Minister P A Mohamed Riyas will inaugurate Kozhikode’s district level Onam fest on September 1 at Kozhikode Beach while Minister for Ports, Museums and Archaeology Ahammad Devarkovil on Friday opened the ‘Residential Kalolsavam’ in the district. The cultural events in the district are being held in multiple venues including Kozhikode beach.Minister for Water Resources Roshy Augustine will inaugurate the celebrations of Idukki district at Cheruthoni on August 27. Kumily, Munnar, Thodupuzha, and Nedumkandam are other venues in the district. MLA O R Kelu will open the cultural feast organised in Wayanad district at Mananthavady Pazhassi Park on Sunday.Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly A N Shamseer will inaugurate the Onam celebrations of Kannur district at Town Square on August 27. The Onam fest in Kollam – ‘Onanilavu’ will be inaugurated by Minister for Finance K N Balagopal on Sunday at Kollam beach. Besides Kollam beach, the other prominent venues where the programmes will be staged include Children’s Park and Thangassery Break Water Tourism Park.
Minister for Revenue and Housing K Rajan will open the festive celebrations in Thrissur, the State’s cultural capital, at Thekkinkadu Maidan on August 28. Chavakkad beach, Peechi, Vazhani, Athirappilly, Nattika Snehatheeram, Kottapuram and Paravur that come under Muziris Heritage Project will host cultural programmes as part of Onam festivities.The Onam celebrations in Palakkad district- ‘Shravanapolima’ – will be inaugurated by Minister for Local Self Government and Excise M B Rajesh on August 28. Rappadi Open Air Auditorium, Velliyamkallu Heritage Park, Kanjirapuzha, Malampuzha, Pothundi, and Bapuji Children’s Park in Sreekrishnapuram are some of the venues where the cultural programmes will be staged. Minister Ahammad Devarkovil will inaugurate the celebrations of Kasaragod district on August 28. Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj V Abdurahiman will inaugurate the Onam celebrations in Malappuram on August 30. The programmes will be staged in various venues including Kottakunnu, Biyyam Kayal, and Tanur. Onam celebrations have been organised on a large scale in Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts also.