KOZHIKODE: Successfully propelling away the issues related to its conduct, the fourth edition of the Malabar River Festival will be held at Chalippuzha and Iruvanjippuzha in Thusharagiri from July 29 to 31.
Over 50 participants from nine countries will take part in the three-day international whitewater kayaking championship as part of River Fest. The kayakers will contest in four categories namely Whitewater Slalom, Boater Cross, Down River Time Trails and Super Final Extreme Race.
A special competition for newly trained kayakers will also hold along with this. Jacopo Nordera of Madras Fun Tools, the technical and logistics partner, said a female category and an under-18 category for budding kayakers would be featured this year.
"The place has an enormous potential, and we only wanted to make it known to the world. A lot of people from across the globe like this fest and donated for it to happen," he told DC.
The fest's conduct was in jeopardy till recently after the district collector's reluctance to support citing financial irregularities. Following this, the tourism department also withdrew.
However, it is learnt that the Madras Fun Tools officials made an apology to the collector, for the spat over prize money, which cleared its way. "We had some communication gap with the authorities which led to the issues. Now all these matters have been sorted out, and the district administration, tourism department and civic bodies are co-operating for its success," said Manik Taneja of Madras Fun Tools.
Tourism minister A.C Moideen will inaugurate the fest at 10 am on Friday at Pulikkayam.
