Thiruvananthapuram: The week-long Onam celebrations organised by the Kerala tourism department will conclude on Sunday (August 30) with a cultural procession featuring 69 floats and 99 traditional and cultural art forms. Vice-president C P Radhakrishnan will flag off the procession at 5pm near Lok Bhavan. It will proceed from Lok Bhavan to East Fort, marking the finale of the state capital’s Onam celebrations. Chief minister V D Satheesan, minister for culture, tourism and cinema P C Vishnunath, and minister for health and devaswom K Muralidharan are among those expected to attend. Floats presented by govt departments and institutions will be the main attraction, with performances by local cultural groups and skating demonstrations adding to the spectacle. Large crowds are expected along the route. Adding to the celebrations’ diversity, the procession will also feature performances representing 10 states — Jammu and Kashmir, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Telangana and Maharashtra — showcasing the country’s cultural range. Special arrangements have been made to manage crowds and ensure clear viewing along the route, with measures in place to prevent overcrowding. Viewing pavilions have been set up at key locations: One for foreign tourists and VVIPs near the Central Library, a VIP pavilion near University College, and a separate pavilion for judges in front of the Public Office. The procession will follow the green protocol, and measures will be taken to minimise waste and cut down single-use plastic. The formal closing ceremony will follow at Nishagandhi Auditorium, concluding with a musical performance by Agam, led by vocalist Harish Sivaramakrishnan.
