Kerala   

City gears up for Onam festivities

— Photo: C. Ratheesh Kumar

Onam is here: Pavement vendors do a brisk business as Onam shopping spree touches its peak. A scene from the city on Thursday.

Thiruvanantapuram: A festival atmosphere prevails in the city with just one day left for the commencement of the four-day Onam celebrations being organised by Kerala Tourism at 16 venues.

The avenue trees and the buildings along the Raj Bhavan - East Fort stretch have been lit up. The Government and private buildings dotting the road and the compound walls have got a fresh coat of paint.

Hundreds are thronging the Kanakakunnu palace premises where cultural programmes are being staged at six venues. The amusement park set up on the palace premises is already drawing huge crowd. A food festival and a trade fair is also being organised on the Sooryakanthi exhibition grounds as part of the celebrations.

Unlike in previous editions, Chandrasekharan Nair stadium has been made the main venue of the festivities in the capital. Satellite channels and Doordarshan will stage mega shows there till August 28. Electricity Minister A.K. Balan switched on the illumination in front of the palace on Thursday evening.

Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will light the traditional lamp at Chandrasekharan Nair stadium at 6.30 p.m. to inaugurate the State-level Onam celebrations on Friday. The inaugural function will be followed by a three-hour mega show to be presented by Kairali TV.

Minister for Home and Tourism Kodiyeri Balakrishnan will preside. Ministers, legislators, KTDC Chairman Cherian Philip, Tourism Secretary V. Venu and Tourism Director Sanjay Kaul will be among those who would attend the inaugural function. The entry to the stadium will be restricted to those having valid entry pass. Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, the Chairman of the Programme Committee, V. Sivankutty, MLA, said over 4,000 artistes will participate in the cultural programmes being organised in the capital from August 24 to 28. Mr. Sivankutty said the illumination, powered by generators, will be switched off at 11.30 p.m.

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