Kerala - Kannur   

Cultural fete begins

KANNUR: The five-day cultural event — Kannur Mahotsavam — began here on Saturday with Home and Tourism Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan formally inaugurating it at the Town Square.

Though the vehicle strike on Sunday and the United Democratic Front’s call for hartal on February 19 were feared to dampen the festivities planned as part of the `maholsavam,’ organisers are hopeful that the cultural events being organised at the Town Square in the evenings during the festival would be unaffected by the vehicle strike and hartal. The cultural festival is being organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC). DTPC officials here said all programmes would be held as scheduled.

Mr. Balakrishnan inaugurated the festival by lighting the traditional lamp. K. Sudhakaran, MLA, presided over the function. A.P. Abdullakutty, MP; MLAs M. Prakashan and Ramachandran Kadannappally; District Collector Ishita Roy; and Kannur municipal chairman K. Upendran were present at the opening ceremony of the event.

The inaugural function was followed by a ganamela led by Rimi Tomy and Anwar Sadat. There would similar music and dance programmes at the Town Square in the evenings during the festival days.

Playback singer K.P. Udayabhanu and music director Sreeram would be present at the music reality show on February 17. A mimicry show by Kottayam Naseer and party would be held on February 18 evening. It will be followed by Bharatanatyam performance by Sibi Sudarshan and Divya Narayan of Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai. On February 19, folk artistes will stage a cultural performance to be followed by a music-dance programme in which musicians and singers, including Kaithapram Damodaran Namboodiri and C.J. Kuttappan, will participate.

The festival will conclude on February 20 with a music programme led by national award winner and noted South Indian singer Srinivas.

A 10-day book fair by the District Library Council began here on February 15.

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