After a year’s gap, Kerala is gearing up for colourful and exciting Onam celebrations across its length and breadth.
A drone show in the State capital and presentation of indigenous art forms by nearly 4,000 tribespeople will be some of the highlights of the week-long Onam celebrations of the State government that will get under way here on Wednesday.
Hosted by the Tourism department, the celebrations will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on the Kanakakkunnu Palace premises here at 6 p.m., Minister for Tourism P.A. Mohamed Riyas and Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty told a press conference here on Tuesday.
Director and actor Basil Joseph and Tamil actor Ravi Mohan (Jayam Ravi) will be the guests of honour.
Minister for Food and Civil Supplies G.R. Anil and Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan will be chief guests. Ministers, MPs, MLAs and the city Mayor will attend the inaugural function.
The inaugural ceremony will be followed by a cultural programme by Kerala Kalamandalam and a music and dance presentation.
The celebrations in the capital will be held at 33 venues and include varied and novel events. Nearly 10,000 artistes will present various programmes.
Chandrasekharan Nair Stadium and University Stadium will host drone-and-light shows from September 5 to 7. Nearly 1,000 drones will take part in the show that will present various aspects related to the State.
Foreign tourists
Foreign tourists from 10 countries such as the U.K., France, Vietnam, Indonesia, Taiwan, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Romania, and South Korea will attend the Onam celebrations as guests of the Tourism department. Visitors from other Indian States will also become a part of the celebrations. There will be separate seating facility for them to view the celebrations and a special lunch will be given.
Mr. Sivankutty said the arrangements for the Onam celebrations were complete.
The valedictory of the Onam celebrations will begin with a cultural procession from Vellayambalam to East Fort on September 9.
Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar will flag off the procession.
Mr. Sivankutty and Mr. Riyas visited the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Tuesday to officially invite him for the celebrations. They also presented him with ‘Onakkodi.’
The Governor had expressed readiness to attend the Onam celebrations, Mr. Riyas said.
A subcommittee on Tuesday reviewed the arrangements for the cultural procession, including those for the 165 floats expected to be part of the procession. One police officer and a volunteer, besides five department officials, will accompany each float.
Seating arrangements have been made for 5,000 people to view the two-hour procession on a first come, first served basis.
A separate pavilion will be put up to seat the Chief Minister, Governor, Ministers, other dignitaries, and foreign guests.
At districts
Onam celebrations will be held in other districts under the District Tourism Promotion Councils, Mr. Sivankutty said.
Mr. Riyas said the State government had sanctioned ₹11.49 crore for the Onam celebrations.
Published – September 02, 2025 09:16 pm IST
