THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy inaugurated the week- long Onam celebrations being organised by the Tourism Department at the jam-packed Nisagandhi auditorium here on Tuesday.
The renovated Kanakakunnu palace, which was thrown open to the public on the occasion, is the prime attraction. The annual cultural extravaganza would showcase a slew of colourful events at various venues across the state capital.
Mr Chandy felicitated playback singer K.S. Chithra, Grammy award winner Manoj George and lyricist Sreekumaran Thampy on the occasion. The stretch from Vellayambalam to City Corporation office has been decked up with illuminations.
The university stadium has also been illuminated to highlight the wall art painted as part of Arteria.
Amusement parks, trade fair, photography exhibition and food courts are the other attractions at Kanakakunnu palace.
The renovation work of the palace was carried out at a cost of Rs 3 crore. A scintillating performance by Chithra and team marked the beginning of the cultural extravaganza.
The inaugural event was not graced by any popular faces. The effort of the tourism authorities to bring in South Indian star Allu Arjun failed.
A top official of the tourism department said that the authorities were not sure about bringing in any celebrity for the closing ceremony on August 31.
