Kerala - Kochi   

Onam cultural fete begins

Staff Reporter

Minister flags off four-day extravaganza

FESTIVE SPIRIT: The Durbar Hall ground which was lit up on Tuesday. Photo: Mahesh Harilal

KOCHI: Lavanyam 2005, the first-ever State Government-sponsored Onam celebration in Kochi was officially kicked off with the Tourism Minister K. C. Venugopal inaugurating the four-day long cultural extravaganza on Tuesday evening at the Durbar Hall Ground.

"The Tourism Department is taking steps to attract tourists to the State during the Onam season. Kochi was selected as a venue for the Government sponsored Onam since it attracts the maximum number of tourists in the State. Kozhikode, the `capital' of the Malabar region, too has festivities going on," he said. Welcoming the gathering, the District Collector A. P. M. Mohammed Hanish said that Onam is being celebrated now after imbibing timely changes. The cultural programmes will continue till the final day of the celebrations - September 16, in the DH Ground, Fine Arts Hall, Children's Park and Marine Drive Grounds. Others who were present in the inaugural function were the Minister for Fisheries and Sports Dominic Presentation; Sebastian Paul, MP; MLAs K. Babu, K. Mohammed Ali and Ludy Luiz; the GCDA chairman Antony Issac and the Fort Kochi RDO Mini Antony.

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