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.
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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.
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Raju Abraham, MLA, presided.
Cultural programmes including classical dance, ganamela and mimicry were held as part of the celebrations.