Malayora Mahotsavam, a rural exposition highlighting potential eco-tourism destinations in the district, has commenced at Augustianmoozhi near Thiruvambady.
Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran opened the 15-day event jointly hosted by the district panchayat and the Thiruvambady grama panchayat.
Organisers said the fest was an attempt to spotlight the village tourism destinations in Kozhikode district and to reinforce the idea that they were now safe to visit despite a history of landslips and floods. The festival will showcase new investment opportunities in farm tourism, homestay enterprises, and village tour operations, they added.
Koduvally and Kunnamangalam block panchayats along with Mukkom and Koduvally municipalities have come up with field support for the village fair.
The coordinators said the event, being organised with the participation of a number of native small-scale entrepreneurs and innovators to showcase their products and services, would be a different experience for visitors. Representatives of around 16 cooperating grama panchayats will be present at the venue till the curtain falls on the fest on January 27.
“‘A Helping Hand for Survival’ is the theme of the fest where we have arranged 80 stalls, including those opened by various government and semi-governmental firms. The District Kudumbashree Mission alone has set up 19 stalls,” said Thiruvambady grama panchayat president P.T. Augustine.
Livestock exhibition
A festival coordinator said a three-day cat show by the Animal Husbandry Department from January 11 would be one of the major attractions of the event. It will be followed by an exclusive livestock exhibition showcasing high-yielding varieties of cows, goats, and calves, he said, adding that there would be separate shows for dog and bird lovers.
The local tour operators, in support of the rural fest, have come up with an exclusive village exploration package for tourists. Sightseeing trips to various eco-tourism destinations will be available at subsidised rate. More than 10 attractive farm tourism destinations too will be available for interested sightseers during the event.
