Week-long Onam fete to commence in Thiruvananthapuram on August 24

Week-long Onam Celebrations to Commence in Thiruvananthapuram

The state capital is set to host a week-long Onam festival beginning Monday, August 24, at Kanakakkunna Palace grounds. The event, organized by the state tourism department, will feature a range of traditional Kerala art forms and cultural performances, with officials emphasizing its role in promoting tourism.

Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh hoisted the flag on Sunday, marking the start of the festivities. Minister K Muraleedharan launched the illumination, and MP Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the food festival. Chief Minister V D Satheesan will officially inaugurate the festival on Monday.

"The festival will bring to limelight a range of Kerala's traditional dance and art forms to a wider audience, especially tourists who visit the state during the Onam season. The events will give an added thrust to the government's efforts to attract more tourists to the state," Tourism Minister Vishnunadh said.

The festival will feature more than 3,000 artists performing across 35 venues in the district. Nishagandhi will host evening performances of traditional ritual art forms including padayani, theyyam, thira, and folklore fusion from 6pm to 7pm. The concluding cultural procession on August 31 will be flagged off by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan.

Official Attendees and Inaugurations

Ahead of the official start on Monday, Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh hoisted the flag on Sunday, while Minister K Muraleedharan launched the illumination and MP Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the food festival. Chief Minister V D Satheesan is scheduled to formally inaugurate the festival on Monday.

According to the New Indian Express report, Ministers K Muraleedharan and C P John, actor Kunchacko Boban, Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Mayor V V Rajesh, and MP Shashi Tharoor will be among those attending the main events at Kanakakkunna Palace. The festival is part of the state tourism department's push to showcase Kerala's heritage.

Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh said, "The festival will bring to limelight a range of Kerala’s traditional dance and art forms to a wider audience, especially tourists who visit the state during the Onam season. The events will give an added thrust to the government’s efforts to attract more tourists to the state."

Cultural Programme Highlights

As part of the celebrations, Nishagandhi will host performances of traditional ritual art forms including padayani, theyyam, thira and folklore fusion from 6pm to 7pm. Over 3,000 artists are expected to participate in events spread across 35 venues in the district. The concluding cultural procession, marking the end of the week-long festivities, will be flagged off by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on August 31.

Distributed Events Across the State

Beyond the capital, several events are planned across Kerala as part of the Onam season. In Kochi, the 'Lavanyam 2026' Onam celebration will be inaugurated by Minister Roshy Augustine at the Durbar Hall Open Air Theatre Roshy Augustine. T J Vinod, MLA, will inaugurate an Onam celebration at Pavam Kuppachan Centre. Meanwhile, in Kozhikode, the district Onam celebration at Beach Freedom Square will be inaugurated by Minister P K Kunhalikutty, and the music band Thaikkudam Bridge will perform at the same venue.

In Thiruvananthapuram, the Nishagandhi auditorium will host performances of traditional art forms including padayani, theyyam, thira, and folklore fusion from 6pm to 7pm as part of the celebrations. The event will also feature a book launch, a painting competition for children, and distribution of Onakkodi (new clothes) to cancer patients, among other activities.

Official Inaugurations and Dignitaries

Tourism Minister P C Vishnunadh hoisted the flag on Sunday, while Minister K Muraleedharan launched the illumination and MP Shashi Tharoor inaugurated the food festival, according to The New Indian Express. Chief Minister V D Satheesan will officially inaugurate the festival on Monday. Ministers K Muraleedharan and C P John, actor Kunchacko Boban, Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan, Mayor V V Rajesh, and MP Shashi Tharoor are slated to attend.

"The festival will bring to limelight a range of Kerala's traditional dance and art forms to a wider audience, especially tourists who visit the state during the Onam season," Tourism Minister Vishnunadh said. "The events will give an added thrust to the government's efforts to attract more tourists to the state."

Cultural Programmes and Regional Events

More than 3,000 artists will participate in events held across 35 venues in the district, according to the New Indian Express report. At Nishagandhi, performances of traditional ritual art forms including padayani, theyyam, thira, and folklore fusion are scheduled from 6 pm to 7 pm. The cultural procession concluding the week-long celebrations will be flagged off by Vice-President C P Radhakrishnan on August 31.

As per a roundup published by the New Indian Express, the state capital will host a series of events on the first day, including the official inauguration of the State Government Onam celebrations by Chief Minister V D Satheesan at Nishagandhi Auditorium. Elsewhere in the city, a book launch of 'Beyond Heads and Tails' by Rajasree Pradeep, a 'Pooradam Chanda' sales fair at Poojappura Central Prison, and an anti-drug painting event by Varnacharth Art & Craft Centre are planned.

In Kottayam, the district-level Onam celebrations will be inaugurated by Minister Roshy Augustine at the Open Air Theatre on August 24, while in Kozhikode, Minister P K Kunhalikutty will open the district Onam celebrations at Beach Freedom Square. The New Indian Express also listed a performance by the band Thaikkudam Bridge at Kozhikode Beach and a visit by T J Vinod MLA to inaugurate Onam celebrations at Pavam Kunchacko Centre in Kochi.

Additional Details from the New Indian Express Report

The report also noted that the Kizhakke Kotta municipality would distribute Onakkodi (new clothes) to cancer patients, with V S Sivakumar participating. The 'Vancharth Art & Craft Centre' will hold a live painting event for children on the theme of anti-drug awareness at the Assembly premises.

The New Indian Express roundup did not specify the number of venues across the state for the entire week's celebrations, nor did it detail the full schedule of performances beyond the first day. The information was compiled from the newspaper's coverage of the event in Thiruvananthapuram, Kottayam, and Kozhikode.