On Kozhikode beach on Tuesday evening, the air was thick with excitement as the five-day Onam celebrations in the district drew to a close.
This year’s celebrations were notable for the range of events, the number of venues and disciplined organising.
“We were able to present novel events. The inclusion of Gujarati Street and Kuttichira as venues was a wise move,” said A. Pradeep Kumar, MLA, at the valedictory function on Kozhikode beach.
Actor Vineeth, who was the guest of honour, said he was excited with the opportunity to celebrate Onam with the general public.
“I am honoured to be in the land of my mentors, Hariharan, M.T. Vasudevan Nair and Kalamandalam Saraswathi, and to be on a stage named after T.A. Razak, who has given me some of the most memorable characters,” he said amid cheering from the crowd.
The development of Bhatt Road Beach into a prominent venue was notable during Onam celebrations. While the main venue, the Beach Open Stage, hosted events such as music concerts, comedy shows and dance programmes, similar events at Bhatt Road Beach drew a largely young audience.
The crowd at Bhatt Road Beach who turned up to listen to Thamarasseri Churam music band on Tuesday rivalled the one at the main venue, where ‘Generation Music’ show by Kalakeralam, under the guidance of musician Kaithapram Damodaran, was the highlight.
Mananchira Square in the city hosted outdoor events such as martial arts, folk art forms, tug-of-war and archery while the Town Hall, dedicated entirely to theatre, hosted some interesting plays. The Chavara Hall on P.T. Usha Road was a new venue, which witnessed classical dance and classical music performances.
Kuttichira and Gujarathi Street, the cultural hotspots of the city, turned venues for music programmes that catered to Kozhikode’s fondness for Hindustani music and ghazals.
The programmes were well-received by people not just from Kozhikdoe, but also from neighbouring districts who had come to the city for the celebrations.
