The Malabar Kayaking Festival to be held in three grama panchayats along the Western Ghats in Kozhikode from July 18 to 22 will pay tribute to Kozhikode’s successful fight against Nipah infection. The festival, in its 6th year, is an international event that features even Olympian kayakers. The run-up for the event begins with a walk carrying lit candles from Tagore Centenary Hall to the Kozhikode beach on July 1. A bike rally from Kozhikode to Thusharagiri on July 8, cycling on July 15 and various local programmes at Kodenchery, Thiruvamabady and Chakkittapara grama panchayats are also part of the event.
A meeting presided over by George M. Thomas, MLA, at Kodenchery on Tuesday decided to organise a Mountain Terrain biking championship on July 29 and Malabar Off-road Championship from August 9 to 12, as part of the event. The event is being organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council with the support of the Tourism Department and the Bengaluru-based Madras Fun Tools with an aim to showcase Malabar’s potential as a water tourism destination.
The event will be conducted in new race formats along the safe stretches of the Chalippuzha, Iruthullippuzha and Meenthullippara. Competitions will be held in popular categories such as downriver, boater cross and slalom. A Rapid Raja and Rapid Rani will be selected at the end of the championship and they will be given attractive prizes.