Thiruvananthapuram: Keralam Tourism Department will organise this year's state-level Onam Tourism Week celebrations from August 24 to 30 at 35 venues across the capital city, Minister P C Vishnunadh said here on Tuesday.
As many as 340 programmes will be held at different venues, with around 3,000 artists and other personnel taking part in the state-level celebrations alone. Across the state, more than 8,000 artists are expected to participate in the Onam Tourism Week celebrations, he said.
The celebrations will be inaugurated by Chief Minister V D Satheesan on August 24, while Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan will attend the closing ceremony, Vishnunadh, who holds Tourism, Culture and Film portfolios, said at a press conference.
The week-long celebrations will showcase Keralam's cultural diversity, traditions, artistic heritage and tourism potential, he said.
As part of the preparations, a cycle rally was held at Manaveeyam Veedhi on August 16 under the leadership of the publicity committee.
A trade fair and exhibition at Kanakakunnu will be inaugurated by the minister on August 21, with Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan presiding over the function.
A flag procession will begin from Kovalam on the same day and pass through various constituencies before concluding at Kanakakunnu on August 23. The Onam flag will then be hoisted and the city's illumination will be switched on.
The food festival and a payasam competition will also be held on August 23, with attractive cash prizes and gifts for the winners.
A Thiruvathira competition will be organised at Bharat Bhavan on the evening of August 23.
The Food Festival at Kanakakunnu will be inaugurated by Transport Minister C P John at 5 pm on August 23, while the illumination programme will be inaugurated by Health and Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan at 6 pm.
Separate Athapookalam competitions for the media and general categories will be held at Jawahar Balabhavan on August 24, the minister said.
The celebrations are aimed at presenting Keralam's traditional and cultural heritage along with its tourist attractions, he said.
