Kerala Tourism’s Onam fest will begin on August 24

Organized by Kerala Tourism, the week-long Onam celebrations will begin on August 24 with a grand inauguration ceremony at the state level in the state capital. According to Tourism and Culture Minister PC Vishnunadh, the week-long festival will revive classical, folk, ethnic and popular art forms before a wide audience at various locations in the state capital and districts across the state. The festival will conclude with a spectacular parade on August 30.

Traditional art forms will receive more emphasis this year, as foreign tourists often show more interest in them. Traditional art forms showcasing the cultural diversity of Kerala will be performed at the Nishagandhi main venue in the Kanakakunnu Palace grounds throughout the week from 6 pm, the minister said.

In collaboration with all leading hotels in the city, brochures and program details of Onam celebrations in English will be distributed to inform foreign tourists about the event, Mr. Vishnunadh said. Apart from the stages reserved for traditional art forms in the Kanakakkunnu Palace premises as in previous years, specialized art forms of Kerala like Mudiyattam, Tholpavakoothu, Padayani and Theyyam will be performed at the main venue for all the seven days.

Apart from retaining all the places where Onam programs were held in the previous year in Thiruvananthapuram district, more places will be added if required, the minister said. The area between Kowdiar and Manacaud will be declared a festival zone during the week. The Food Safety Commission will deploy a special team to ensure the quality of food products and ingredients used for cooking in hotels and restaurants during the Onam season.

Artists/Art Institutions interested in participating in Tourism Department’s ‘Onam Tourism Week Celebrations’ may send their applications on July 12 by 5:00 PM. More details are available at www.keralatourism.org

Published – 02 Jul 2026 20:02 IST