The 27th Avittom snake-boat regatta, organised by the Avittom Jalotsava Samiti, was held in the Pampa at Ranni on Tuesday afternoon.
The regatta began with a colourful pageantry of decorated snake-boats at 3 p.m. Anto Antony, MP, inaugurated the event. Raju Abraham, MLA, flagged off the pageantry. District Collector S. Lalithambika delivered the festival message and Krishnaprasad, cine actor, the Onam message.
Decorated snake-boats (palliyodams) belonging to the villages of Edappavoor, Ayroor, Kattoor, Cherukol, Edappavoor-Peroor, and Kottathoor took part in the pageantry.
DGP felicitated
Director-General of Police (DGP) Jacob Punnoose was felicitated at another programme organised as part of the district-level Onam celebrations in his hometown Ranni on Tuesday. Mr. Punnoose was presented with a crown of flowers on the occasion.
Addressing the function, the DGP said festivals like Onam played a key role in infusing the spirit of unity and brotherhood in the social psyche, especially in this age of communal crisis.
Raju Abraham, MLA, presided.
Cultural programmes including classical dance, ganamela and mimicry were held as part of the celebrations.
