The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : City to host 3 major events tomorrow

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 01, 2005

Kerala

Kerala - Kochi

City to host 3 major events tomorrow

By R. Ramabhadran Pillai

KOCHI, MARCH 31. The day after All Fools Day, Kochi will have lots of fun, serious business and spiritual call. Three major events are converging on Saturday to make it a historic day for the Queen of Arabian Sea.

The most eagerly awaited event is the battle on the ground between two traditional rivals, India and Pakistan, at the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium. The summer vacation having had already provided the holiday mood, the city is all set to celebrate the One Day International. Cricket fans may not get another opportunity in the near future to watch their heroes at close quarters, never mind even if the sun throws its rays in all fury and the audience sweat it out in the high humidity.

Mayors' meet

Having postponed once in the aftermath of the tsunami, the World Mayors' conference is being convened on Saturday. Has the big event been eclipsed by the battle of the willows is the obvious question being asked by those closely following the event.

The Conference will be held from April 2 to 4. About 400 participants, including 150 foreign delegates, are expected to attend the meet. It is being organised by the All India Institute of Local Self-Government (AIISLG), an autonomous body, in association with various agencies. The Government of Kerala and the Kerala Institute of Local Administration are co-partners. Global bodies such as the United Nations Development Programme, Urban Management Programme, UN-Habitat, US Aid and the Asian Development Bank are partners for the event. The World Mayors Conference is organised every five years. The last one was held in Jaipur in 1998.

Somayagam

The Mahavritha Somayagam is the third big event scheduled to start on Saturday morning. Lakhs of devotees are expected to participate in the week-long yagam being organised at the Ernakulathappan Grounds. It is reportedly for the first time that the yagam is organised on a big scale in Kerala. The continuous recital of Vedas and Upanishads may usher in an atmosphere of spirituality in a city moving at a hectic pace.

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