The golden jubilee programmes of the City Corporation came to an end on Saturday after a year-long staging of regional art forms and events which captured the essence of the culture of the region.
Presiding over the function, legislator and CPI(M) leader Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Kozhikode was an ancient city and a melting pot of various cultures and religions since the 16th century.
He lamented that though new generations were taught the histories of the world, there was no space in textbooks for regional and local history. Events such as the civic body’s should enthuse academicians and educational institutions to promote regional history and art forms. Such efforts would educate and influence young minds, Mr. Balakrishnan said.
Malayalm film director Ranjith, who was a guest, urged the Corporation to construct a modern cinema theatre as currently there was no facility to host a film festival in the city.
Mr. Ranjith said the theatre, if constructed by the civic body, would become a major source of income for the Corporation.
The function, presided over by Mayor A.K. Premajam and attended by councillors of the ruling Left Democratic Front, reached its colourful heights with a procession featuring Panchavadyam, tableus, parasols, Karakkattam, and Shinkarimelam.
Opposition councillors stayed away from the celebrations, alleging that pomp and splendour of the event cannot veil the reality of mismanagement and apathy shown by Corporation authorities to basic civic issues in the city.
