The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Venue shifted from Nishagandhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 21, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Venue shifted from Nishagandhi

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

Chandrasekharan Nair stadium is the new venue

Thiruvananthapuram: The venue of the State-level inauguration of Kerala Tourism's Onam week celebrations has been shifted from the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium to the Chandrasekharan Nair stadium here to make it a "truly people's festival."

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will inaugurate the celebrations, lighting a ceremonial lamp on the evening of September 3. This is the first time the venue is being shifted outside the Kanakakunnu palace, hub of the Onam week celebrations as in previous years.

Highlight

Fusion of folk arts, a cultural programme by 400 artistes, and a fireworks display will be the highlight of the inaugural ceremony. "The week-long event has been revamped to reflect the arts and culture of the State and by introducing a trade fair, food festival," a senior official of Kerala Tourism told The Hindu .

Cultural programmes will be staged at five venues on the premises of the Kanakakunnu palace. Classical music recitals will be held there, classical dance recitals at the Nishagandhi open-air auditorium, `ganamela' on the permanent stage on the Sooryakanthi exhibition grounds, Kalari at the Kalarithara and Anachamayam at the Poomugham in front of the palace.

Presentation of folk arts and a chenda ensemble will take place on the premises of the Public Office.

Music director M.S. Vishawanathan, playback singers M.G. Sreekumar, K.S. Chitra will participate in the `ganamela' on the Poojappura grounds. Plays will be staged in the VJT Hall and Kathaprasangom at East Fort.

Kathakali and Koodiyattom will be staged at the Theerthapada mandapam and cultural programmes at Sreevarahom. Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan will also be a venue.

Trade fair on the Sooryakanthi exhibition grounds from September 2 is expected to attract people in large numbers. Over 50 stalls and daily and mega prizes for shoppers will be an attraction. The Vellayambalam-East Fort stretch along with the Government buildings will be lit up.

"Shops, other business establishments and private buildings on the stretch have been requested to illuminate and prizes will be given," says B. Suman, Tourism Director.

The organisation of celebrations at Akkulam, Kovalam, Thiruvallam, Neyyar Dam, Varkala and Aruvikkara has been entrusted to the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). Chirayinkeezh has been added to the list of venues and a boat race will be held in Pulimootil kadavu as part of the fete.

Funds

The pageantry, usually the grand finale of the celebrations, will not be held this year also. The pageantry was costing the exchequer Rs.2.5 crore as all departments, DTPCs and public sector undertakings, had to find their own funds. The last pageantry was organised in 2001. Thiruvananthapuram has been given Rs.36 lakh, Kochi and Kozhikode have been sanctioned Rs.25 lakh each and the remaining districts Rs.1 lakh each, except the Thiruvananthapuram DTPC (Rs.3 lakh) for organising the festival.

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