Kochi: To mark the beginning of Onam festivities, the famed Tripunithura Athaghosham sponsored by the State Government, was held on Friday. Athaghosham also known as Athachamayam, officially kick starts the 10-day-long Onam festival in the royal town of Tripunithura.
The procession was inaugurated by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at the Boys’ High School at Atham Nagar. He announced an allocation of Rs 5 lakh for this year’s Athachamayam. Minister K.Babu also attended the function. Minister for Civil Supplies Anoop Jacob hoisted the Atham flag which was earlier received by Tripunithura Municipal Chairman R. Venugopal from the Cochin royal family.
School students dressed in different attire, traditional art forms, folk arts like pulikali, theyyam, ottamthullal, kummatti, kolkali and karakattam, tableaux depicting various social issues and scenes from epics and musical ensembles were taken out in the procession organised in traditional gaiety.
As many as 18 different items were showcased in the procession. Children dressed as tigers grabbed the attention of onlookers. Heavy rains failed to dampen the spirit of the festival and hundreds gathered along the roadside to witness the procession. All roads leading to the royal town were jam-packed and police personnel had a tough time managing crowds and diverting vehicles through alternative routes. Pookalam contests were also organised as part of the celebrations.
