Colourful start to Onam with Athagosham in Kochi

Athagosham pageantry in Tripunithura on Friday heralded the harvest festival of Onam.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, after inaugurating the Athagosham function, announced a support package of Rs. 5 lakh for Athagosham every year.

In spite of the intermittent rain in the morning, crowds were seen walking towards Tripunithura town where Atham celebrations began with a procession around the town.

Led by Tripunithura Municipal councillors, students, Kudumbashree workers, ASHA workers, various bands, nadaswaram and chenda artists, kavadi, a multitude of artists depicting various traditional art forms , including theyyam, Arjuna nritham, and people dressed up as various gods and goddess from Hindu mythology formed the body of the procession.

Towards the end were various tableaux depicting modern day lives and scenes from ancient Indian epics and the Bible. Leading the float was one by Maithri — a suicide prevention organisation — that depicted how important mental health is towards enjoying life. It was also the first of the three tableaux which carried the anti-alcohol, anti-substance abuse message.

Rain dampened the spirit of the artists as they had no time to perform to an audience at the Boy’s High School, the Atham Nagar venue from where the procession began. All the preparations by various groups, including students, took a beating as the venue ground turned slushy.

K. Babu, the Minister for Excise and Fisheries, presided over a function held to flag off the procession. Anoop Jacob, the Minister for Civil Supplies, hoisted the Atham flag, MPs K.V. Thomas and P. Rajeev, Municipal chairman R. Venugopal, Opposition leader C. N. Sundaran and Athaghosam convenor, S. Madhusoodanan spoke on the occasion.