Thiruvananthapuram | Folk traditions from across the country will find a place alongside Kerala’s rich cultural heritage as 160 folk artists from 10 states arrive in the state capital to be part of this year’s Onam-Tourism Week celebrations.
Artists from Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Telangana and Tamil Nadu will present their traditional art forms at various venues across Kerala during the week-long celebrations from August 24 to 30.
The artists will perform in different districts in two regions, offering visitors an opportunity to experience folk traditions from different parts of the country during the festive season, according to an official release here.
The artists will also come together for the grand Onam procession on August 30. The procession will begin from Manaveeyam Veedhi at 5 pm and conclude at East Fort.
The participation of artists from outside Kerala is part of the government’s effort to make this year’s celebrations more diverse while bringing together different cultural traditions on a common platform, it said.
The state-level celebrations will be held at 35 venues in the capital from August 24 to 30, with more than 340 programmes planned across various venues.
Around 3,000 artists and backstage workers are expected to take part in the state-level celebrations alone, while more than 8,000 artists will participate in programmes organised across Kerala, the release said.
Traditional Kerala art forms will also receive special attention, with performances of Mudiyettu, Tholpavakoothu, Padayani, Arjunanritham and Poothanum Thirayum scheduled at Nishagandhi from August 25 to 30, it said.
This year’s celebrations are being organised with a focus on showcasing Kerala’s cultural diversity, traditional art forms and tourism potential, while giving audiences a glimpse of the country’s wider folk heritage.
The celebrations will also feature food festivals, illuminations, music and dance programmes and other cultural events, making the capital a major centre of Onam festivities during the week, the release added.
