It was truly an eventful Onam that came to a close in Kozhikode on Sunday. The five-day celebrations organised by the Department of Tourism in association with the District Tourism Promotion Council and the District Administration was marked by not just onstage cultural programmes, but a variety of off-stage events as well. While the Kozhikode Beach, along with Bhat Road beach, Chavara Cultural Centre and Town Hall were venues for the onstage cultural events including dance, music and comedy shows. The Mananchira ground was the venue for the folk art forms.
The special Onam programmes organised for the migrant workers in the district at the Tagore Centenary Hall on Thiruvonam Day, the competitions for residents associations as well as the three day Sahityotsavam at the Town Hall differentiated this year’s Onam celebrations from the previous ones. The active participation of the officials, political and social leaders in making the programmes eventful was a notable feature as well.
The public had taken a keen interest in all the programmes, evident from the huge crowds gathered at the venues every evening during the celebrations.
Sunday, the final day of the festivities was marked by severe traffic congestion in the areas around the major venues like Kozhikode Beach Open Stage and the Bhat Road Beach. Bollywood and Kollywood Musical concert by Devan Ekambaram and Simran Sehgal at the Beach open stage, Play ‘Theekkanal’ at the Town Hall, Ghazal at the Chavara Cultural Centre and Music and Dance Show at the Bhat Road beach were the major programmes on the final day.
