KOZHIKODE: The four-day cultural extravaganza in connection with State Government-sponsored Onam celebrations began here on Tuesday.

Though the cultural procession was cancelled anticipating inclement weather, the whole celebrations got off to a colourful start with a Bharatanatyam performance by cine actress, Lakshmi Gopalaswami. Songs by P. Susheela followed the dance.

Former district kalaprathibha and kalathilakam, Akash and Sithara Krishnakumar, handed over the lamp to Mayor Thottathil Ravindran who inaugurated the celebrations by lighting the traditional lamp. T. P.M. Zaheer, MLA, presided over the function.

M. K. Nalini, district panchayat president, Rachna Shah, District Collector, and B.Suman, Tourism Director, were among those present on the occasion.

A football match was held at the stadium. Floral carpet contests were held at Indoor stadium in the morning. A vocal concert of Madurai T. N. Seshagopal, Chennai was held at Jaya Auditorium.

A five-day long food fest was inaugurated at the Swapana Nagari. Major hotels in the city are participating in the food fest. The illuminations at major points in the city including the beach road, S. M. Street, Mananchira Square and public buildings added colour to the festivities.

The tourist spot of Thusharagiri was enlivened with cultural programmes being staged in the evening.

The literary fest in connection with the Onam celebrations will start at the S. K. Pottekkatt Cultural Centre at Puthiyara on September 14. The three-day long literary fest will be inaugurated by noted Tamil litterateur Shirpi Balasubramaniyan.

Kerala Sahitya Akademi vice-chairman U. K. Kumaran will preside over. A musical version of Onam poems will be held at 3 p.m. on September 15, followed by a poets conference at 5 p.m. on the same day. Litterateur Sara Joseph will inaugurate the seminar on short story at 3 p.m. on September 16.

Novelist, Sethu will inaugurate the valedictory at 5 p.m. on September 16.

Onam will be celebrated at another tourist spot at Kappad beach on September 16.

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