After floods, Kerala swings into Onam celebrations

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After two consecutive flood, Kerala putting loss and painful memories behind it, rose and got into the festival mood to celebrate Onam, the biggest festival of the state. A terror attack warning by the enforcement agencies in southern parts of the country notwithstanding, people bustled about in the last-minute Uthradapachil shopping and preparations ahead of Thiruvonam.

The weatherman has forecast light to moderate rain on Onam as well. Major markets across the state, however, witnessed heavy rush from Tuesday morning. Thoroughfares and roads in cities and towns were filled with shoppers.

Last year, the state had called off its Onam celebrations in the wake of the mega flood which claimed over 400 lives and destroyed houses and livelihood of thousands of people. Though the flash flood and landslides this August killed over hundred people, the loss, destruction and displacement were relatively less. The government decided to move on and go ahead with the Onam celebrations this year.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan kicked off the week-long Onam celebrations of the government in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday. The seven-day festivities will showcase various art forms, both modern and traditional artistes from across the state. Twenty-nine venues have been arranged in Thiruvananthapuram alone and the curtain on the festivities will come down with a grand cultural pageantry on September 16.