Click it and Unblock the Notifications
The State government's Onam celebrations will officially begin on September 3, with a week-long series of events. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the festivities at 6 p.m. at the Nishagandhi Auditorium, Kanakakkunnu, as announced by Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty during a press briefing.
Ahead of the inauguration, a tug-of-war competition will be held on September 2 at 5 p.m. at Central Stadium, featuring teams from the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), Corporation and district panchayat staff, Secretariat employees, and media representatives. On the same day, the ornamental lighting and a media center will be unveiled at 6:30 p.m.
Onam Celebrations at Various Locations
The Onam celebrations will be spread across multiple venues apart from Kanakakkunnu, including Central Stadium, Poojappura grounds, Shanghumughom, Bharat Bhavan, Gandhi Park, Museum compound, Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, Akkulam, and Veli tourist village. Festivities will also extend to locations outside the city, such as the Varkala tourism centre and Nedumangad.
The event will feature director-actor Basil Joseph and Tamil actor Jayam Ravi as chief guests. The celebrations, which are being coordinated under the supervision of Tourism Minister P.A. Mohamed Riyas, will conclude on September 9. Other dignitaries attending include Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, along with several ministers and officials.
Cultural Showcase
The week-long Onam festivities will showcase a vibrant lineup of cultural programs, including musical performances by renowned artists such as Sarath, Mano, Chinmayi Sripada, Vineeth Sreenivasan, and Sithara Krishnakumar. A special highlight will be a grand performance by Suraj Venjaramoodu at Kanakakkunnu, while other artists like Naresh Iyer and Biju Narayanan will perform across different venues.
Adding to the celebrations, the Athapookkalam competition will be held on September 2 at Jawahar Balbhavan, Vellayambalam, showcasing the essence of tradition through beautiful floral designs.
A Blend of Tradition and Modernity
The celebrations will bring together a vibrant blend of traditional and modern art forms, featuring martial arts, audio-visual presentations, and performances by thousands of artists from across different disciplines.
At the Nishagandhi Auditorium, a special visual showcase of Kerala's artistic heritage, curated by Pramod Payyannur and G.S. Pradeep, will be presented. The program will include music bands, classical concerts, dance performances, theatrical plays, comedy acts, and more, adding to the festive spirit.
Grand Finale Parade
The Onam festivities will conclude on September 9 with a grand cultural parade stretching from Vellayambalam to East Fort. The procession, starting at Manaveeyam Veedhi, will showcase nearly 150 decorated floats and performances by artists, including participants from other states, making it a spectacular finale.
In addition to the events in Thiruvananthapuram, celebrations will also take place across other districts, organized in partnership with the Tourism Department and the respective District Tourism Promotion Councils (DTPCs).
