T’puram: Kerala Tourism’s week-long Onam celebrations will begin on Aug 24 with a grand state-level inaugural ceremony in Thiruvananthapuram, tourism minister P C Vishnunadh said. It will conclude with a grand procession on Aug 30.Speaking at a meeting of legislators, department heads and officials involved in organizing the annual mega festival, which has been branded as ‘Onam Tourism Week Celebrations’, Vishnunadh said that the event has emerged as major tourist offerings.The area between Kowdiar and Manacaud in Thiruvananthapuram will be announced as festival zone during the week.The week-long festival will bring alive the classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms before a wide audience in multiple venues in the state capital and districts across the state.“We have identified that foreign tourists are keen to watch and experience our traditional and Onam related art forms.” he added.“This year, traditional art forms will be given greater prominence as foreign tourists often show more interest in them. Showcasing Kerala’s cultural diversity, traditional art forms will be performed at the main venue of Nishagandhi at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds during the entire week at 6-7 pm”, the minister said.He added that Kerala’s niche art forms like mudiyattam, tholpavakoothu, padayani and theyyam will also be performed in the main venue on all seven days.The department will retain all venues where events were held last year and will consider adding more venues if needed, Vishnunadh said.Besides, food safety commissionerate will deploy a special squad to ensure the quality of food products and ingredients used in hotels and restaurants during the Onam season.
