The Hindu : Kerala / Kochi News : Four-day fiesta to celebrate Onam

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Wednesday, Aug 22, 2007
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Kerala - Kochi

Four-day fiesta to celebrate Onam

Staff Reporter

Minister to inaugurate the programme on Saturday

Programmes to be held at four venues
Tourism Department, district administration and DTPC to organise programmes

KOCHI: The Tourism Department in association with the district administration and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) have drawn up a variety of programmes, Lavanyam 2007, lasting four days as part of this year’s Onam celebrations.

Minister for Cultural Affairs M.A. Baby will inaugurate the programme on Saturday at a function to be held at the Durbar Hall (DH) ground, Collector A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish told a press conference here on Tuesday.

K.V. Thomas, MLA, will preside over the function. Fisheries Minister S. Sarma, Mayor Mercy Williams and MLAs and MPs are also expected to participate.

Fireworks in the background of the backwaters near Marine Drive will light up the night sky marking the end of the programme at 9.30 p.m. on August 28.

Elaborate arrangements will be made for the spectators to watch the fireworks, the Collector said.

Cultural programmes

Cultural and music programmes, including music nites, dance, competitions and comedy programmes, will be held at four venues - DH ground, Marine Drive, Maharaja’s College auditorium and Ernakulam Children’s Park.

The programmes and competitions to be held in association with the district child welfare committee at the children’s park will start on August 24 and last till September 2.

MG Road would be fully illuminated thanks to the cooperation of the traders and the public.

This would enable the authorities to concentrate the resources on illuminating the venues and immediate areas, the Collector said.

Mr. Hanish said that the Suvarna Varsha celebrations being held by the police marking the 50 anniversary of the Kerala Police would also be considered part of the programme.

Food festival

Besides, the two-day programmes to be held at Mulavukad on August 26 and 27, including a food fest by the Kudumbasree unit, would also be provided support in association with the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation.

Onam celebrations to be held at other parts of the district would also be actively supported by the DTPC, the Collector said. A unique programme would be the coming together of celebrities from various walks of life like Lonappan Nambadan, MP, poet Chemmanam Chacko, Balachandran Thycaud and actors KPAC Lalitha, Mala Aravindan, and Kunjan to share the lighter moments of their lives.

The three-hour programme titled “Vedivattam,” conceived by Sanal Potti, will be held at the Maharaja’s College auditorium on August 26 from 4 p.m.

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