A grand night of dance and music at the Kozhikode beach on Thursday marked the end of the week-long Onam celebrations organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).
The valedictory function of the celebrations was inaugurated by M.K. Raghavan, MP, who said that the Onam celebrations had transformed into a large-scale cultural fiesta over the years with artistes from various genres coming together to perform.
He said there were plans to incorporate a grand procession in the Onam celebrations next year.
Noted Kannada actor Aditi Rai was the chief guest on the occasion. She also performed a dance number later.
Pookkalam
MLA Purushan Kadalundi gave away the prizes to the winners of the Pookkalam contest organised as part of the Onam celebrations.
Police Commissioner A.V. Geroge gave away mementos to the sponsors.
District Collector C.A. Latha presided over the function.
Before the inaugural function, there was a Keralanatanam performance by Gayathri Subrahmanian.
Dance fiesta
The dance fiesta after the valedictory function was a star-studded one with noted actresses Lakshmi Gopalaswami and Shamna Kasim besides Aditi Rai grooving to popular numbers.
The Onam celebrations were inaugurated by Mayor A.K. Premajam at the same venue on September 6.
Besides variety entertainment programmes at the Beach open stage, programmes were held in 14 venues across the district.
The folk arts festival at Mananchira grounds, music festival, and dance festival at Zamorin’s hall, theatre festival at Town Hall, Literary festival at K.P. Keshavamenon hall, and Ghazal at Tagore Centenary Hall were all performed to a packed audience.
Kite festival
A kite festival was held in Kozhikode for the first time in Kozhikode on September 6 and 7 under the aegis of One India Kite Team as part of the celebrations.
Teams from five countries took part in the festival.
A one-day artists’ camp was also held at the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery while martial art forms were performed at various venues.
