Kerala Tourism’s Onam fest from August 24-30
Traditional art forms to be showcased prominently
The Voice of Chandigarh News
The week-long Onam celebrations, organised by the Kerala Tourism, will commence on August 24 with a grand state-level inaugural ceremony in the state capital, Minister for Tourism and Culture Shri PC Vishnunadh said here on Thursday.
The minister was speaking at a meeting of legislators, department heads and officials involved in organising the annual mega festival branded as ‘Onam Tourism Week Celebrations’, which has emerged as one of the major tourist offeringsof the state.
MLA’s M Vincent, V Joy and G R Anil attended the meeting held at the Govt Guest House. Mayor V V Rajesh and Deputy Mayor G S Asha Nath were also present.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan will be the Chief Patron of the state-level Onam Celebrations Committee.
The week-long festival, will bring alive the classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms before a wide audience in multiple venues in the state capital and districts across the state. The festival will conclude with a grand procession on August 30.
“Onam celebrations organised by Tourism Department has always been a signature event of the state. We have identified that foreign tourists are keen to watch and experience our traditional and Onam related art forms.” Vishnunadh noted.
This year, traditional art forms will be given greater prominence as foreign tourists often show more interest in them. Showcasing Kerala’s cultural diversity, traditional art forms will be performed in the main venue of Nishagandhi at Kanakakunnu Palace grounds during the entire week from 6-7 pm, the Minister said.
Collaborating with all the prominent hotels in the city, brochures and programme details of Onam celebrations in English will be distributed to inform foreign tourists about the event, Vishnunadh.
Other than the stages assigned for traditional art forms in Kanakakkunnu Palace premises like previous years, Kerala’s niche art forms like Mudiyattam, Tholpavakoothu, Padayani and Theyyam will be performed in the main venue on all seven days.
Besides retaining all the venues where Onam programmes were held in previous year in Thiruvananthapuram district, more venues will be added if needed, the Minister said.
The area between Kowdiar and Manacaud will be announced as festival zone during the week, he added.
A specialsquad will be deployed by the Food Safety Commissionerate to ensure the quality of food products and ingredients used to cook in hotels and restaurants during the Onam season.
Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Leader of the Opposition, Pinarayi Vijayan, Ministers C P John, K Muraleedharan, Deputy Speaker Shanimol Osman, MPs Shashi Tharoor, AA Raheem and Adoor Prakash will be patrons of the state-level celebrations committee.
Tourism Minister will be the Chairman of the committee.
District Collector Anu Kumari IAS; Anjana M IAS, Director, Tourism Department; Sreedhanya Suresh IAS, Tourism Additional Director (General); City Police Commissioner Arul R.B. Krishna and KTDC MD Harshil R Meena IAS also attended the meeting.
Artists can apply: Artists/ Art Institutions interested in participating in Tourism Department’s ‘Onam Tourism Week Celebrations’ can submit their applications via mail or by hand to the address:
Convener, Onam Tourism Week Celebrations- 2026,Tourism Directorate, Park View, Thiruvananthapuram- 695033. Phone: 0471-2560426. For more details: www.keralatourism.org
Applications should be submitted on or before July 12 (Sunday), 2026, 5pm with subject matter referring as ‘Onam Tourism Week Celebrations-2026’ on letter cover.
