A celebration for everyone

The procession, a visual feast of art and culture, was a truly inclusive event. A special pavilion was set up at the Tripunithura Boys Higher Secondary School for around 20 differently-abled students, their teachers, and parents. Ministers M B Rajesh and P Rajeeve, along with actors Jayaram and Ramesh Pisharody, took the time to interact with them, making the experience even more memorable.

“The proclamation of Onam, the celebration of equality, is from Tripunithura. This time, the government also introduces the concept of green Onam. The festival should be celebrated by avoiding plastic to the maximum,” he said. The air was filled with the sounds of musical ensembles like pandimelam and panchavadyam.

Spectators, young and old, danced to the rhythm of folk, classical, and popular numbers. The festivities officially began when Minister Rajesh hoisted the flag, and the procession itself, featuring over 300 artists, was flagged off by actor Jayaram.

The four-hour parade, which started at Atham Nagar, wound its way through several key junctions before returning to the Government Boys High School Ground, with metro trains and buses packed with visitors from all over. The Athachamayam procession kicked off the Onam celebrations with a display of unity, culture, and pure joy, setting a festive tone for the days to come.

The state government’s Onam celebrations too began with the procession in Tripunithura.