Kerala Touism’s week-long State-level Onam celebrations will be kicked off by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at the Nishagandhi auditorium on the Kanakakunnu palace premises here on September 3.
Actor Mammootty will be the chief guest at the function to be presided over by Minister for Tourism and Cooperation Kadakampally Surendran.
A panchavadyam ensemble by 40 young artistes will open the inaugural function of the government-sponsored festivities in the State capital and 13 districts. Actor Manju Warrier will enthral the audience with her dance performance.
Leading singers Vijay Yesudas and Vidhu Prathap will lead the musical programme. “Nanma niravil Nallonam”, an audio-visual programme produced by Mathew Itty, is the other attraction.
The celebrations will end with a colourful pageantry in the State capital on September 9.
Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, Mr. Surendran said green protocol would be followed in organising the celebrations and instructions to this effect had been given to the organising committee in the district and at the State level.
The government has sanctioned ₹ 5.25 crore for organising the events in the State. Of the amount, ₹3.51 crore would be for the festivities in the capital.