The State’s rich culture and tradition, besides four ambitious missions of the government, will be on display at a pageantry that will bring the curtains down on Kerala Tourism’s Onam celebrations here on Saturday.
Artistes from various States will join around 1,000 artistes from Kerala for the pageantry, which has 90 floats and 63 art forms, being taken out from Vellayambalam to East Fort.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will flag off the event at Manaveeyam Veedhi at 5 p.m. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran will hand over the ‘kombu’, a wind instrument, to the chief artiste to launch the musical feast.
Behind the Mounted Police contingent, as many as 100 men holding ‘muthukkuda’ in traditional attire and Mohiniyattom artistes with Olakkuda will follow. Chenda melam, Shingarimelam, Ilanhitharamelam, and Panchavadyam will add vigour to the event.
Theyyam, Kathakali, Padayani, Pulikkali, Neelakkavadi, Pookkavadi, Chinth Kavadi, and Ammankuda will add colour to the festivities.
Govt missions
Over four dozen art forms, such as Mayooranrutham, Parunthattam, Garudan Parava, and Arjunanrutham, will be a treat to the eyes.
Floats representing missions of the State government such as ‘Home for All’, ‘Power for all’, ‘Organic vegetables across the State’, ‘Kshemapension- Financial security’, ‘Grow Kerala’, and ‘Environment Protection’ will be arranged.
Those featuring responsible tourism, green protocol, ‘My garbage-my responsibility’, and renewable energy will also be in place.
Jadayuppara
Kerala Tourism will display ‘Jadayuppara’, which is to be opened to the public in December. Kerala heritage, cinema, and literature, women’s health and empowerment, and advancements in science and technology will be displayed in the floats of various departments and organisations.
Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Minister for Tourism said all arrangements were in the final phase and green protocol would be followed for the floats. Kerala Tourism had provided ₹34 lakh for the pageantry.
The pageantry will take around one-and-a-half hours to cross one point and the beginning of the pageantry had been advanced to 5 p.m, in view of the increase in the number of floats.
Art forms will be staged at the VIP pavilions to be set up in front of University College, State Central Library, and at the Museum gate. The Chief Minister, Ministers, and other dignitaries are expected to watch the pageantry.
The first three prizes for floats in various categories and that for Athapookkalam and Thiruvathirakkali will be distributed at the valedictory function at Nishagandhi at 7 p.m.
Actor Shobana’s dance and Flying Elephant band’s performance will be the highlights on the occasion.
D.K. Murali, MLA; P. Bala Kiran, Director, Kerala Tourism; Jaffar Malik, Additional Director, Kerala Tourism; KTDC managing director R. Rahul; and District Medical Officer Jose G Dicruz were present.
