The capital is set to drown in Onam fervour. On Saturday evening, Tourism Minister P. A. Mohamed Riyas will switch on the city-wide illumination. Either side of the main thoroughfare from Kowdiar to Manacaud will be lit up all through the week-long celebrations. Festival revellers from within the city and surrounding regions are expected to make a beeline for the streets over the next few days. The Vellayambalam-Sasthamangalam road will also be illuminated for the first time from this year.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will inaugurate the State-level Onam week celebrations at the Nishagandhi open air auditorium in the capital at 6 p.m. on August 27. Dancer Mallika Sarabhai and actor Fahadh Faasil will be the chief guests at the function. Various cultural programmes, including music and dance events and mega shows, will be organised in 31 venues spread out across the city over the next week. Folk art performances, fusion music, concerts by popular musicians and other events will be held across the venues. Over 8,000 artistes are set to participate in the events.
