Thiruvananthapuram district on Tuesday emerged overall champions in the 27 Keralotsavam which concluded at Aruvikkara near here. The host district notched up 306 points. While Kannur came second with 212 points, Kozhikode was placed third with 200 points.
Devika Satheesh from Ernakulam was declared the Kalathilakom, P. Anup Kumar from Kozhikode was the Kalaprathibha.
In her valedictory address Youth Welfare Minister P.K. Jayalakshmi said the government would consider giving grace marks for professional courses to winners of the State-level competitions.
Separate competitionsFor the first time, the sports competitions and the cultural competitions were held separately. According to a press note issued here it was the lead in sport competitions that eventually helped Thiruvananthapuram clinch the overall championship. In the cultural competitions which commenced on December 28, it was Kannur district that established its supremacy by winning 83 points.
Cultural eventsIt was the five northern districts of Kannur, Kasaragod, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Thrissur that emerged toppers in the cultural competitions.
Kasaragod was placed second with 71 points and Malappuram, third with 69 points. Kozhikode bagged 67 points and Thrissur, 65. Participants from these districts bagged top slots in various cultural events, including mono act, poetry writing, Thiruvathira, cartoon, Oppana, folk music, Mohiniyattom, Mappilappattu, and group music.
While it was the first prizes in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom that clinched the Kalathilakom for Ms. Satheesh, it was the first prizes for painting and pencil drawing that fetched Mr. Kumar the Kala Prathibha title.
