The week-long Onam Tourism Week celebrations in Kerala will conclude on Sunday with a grand closing pageantry through Thiruvananthapuram, organisers said. The procession will be flagged off by Vice‑President CP Radhakrishnan at 5 pm from Lok Bhavan and will include 69 floats and 99 distinct art forms, according to a state tourism department press release.
Who will attend and where the procession will pass
The closing ceremony will see the presence of several senior state leaders. The release named Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister VD Satheesan, Tourism Minister PC Vishnunadh, Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Devaswoms K Muraleedharan and Minister for Transport CP John among those who will attend.
The pageant will begin at Lok Bhavan and proceed along a city route that includes Vellayambalam, Museum, Palayam and the Statue before culminating at East Fort. Authorities have warned of traffic restrictions in the city during the procession.
| Time | Event / Location |
|---|---|
| 5:00 pm | Flag off from Lok Bhavan by Vice‑President CP Radhakrishnan |
| En route | Passes Vellayambalam, Museum, Palayam, Statue |
| Conclusion | Ends at East Fort |
Scale and cultural content
The procession will feature around 69 floats and installations put up by various government departments, showcasing Kerala's social progress, traditions and issues of contemporary relevance. A wide array of performing traditions — a total of 99 art forms — will appear in the pageantry, reflecting the state’s varied cultural identities.
- Traditional Kerala performances listed include Pulikali, Garuda Parave and Muthappan Theyyam.
- Art troupes from several Indian states — Tamil Nadu, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, West Bengal and Telangana — will take part.
- Performances by members of the transgender community are also scheduled as part of the procession.
State organisers said the floats and installations are intended to present both the aesthetic heritage of the state and socially relevant themes. The pageantry has been designed to draw visitors and tourists to the capital on the closing day of the festival.
Festival footprint in Thiruvananthapuram
The tourism department's Onam festival programme has taken place across multiple venues in the district. The release stated that more than 3,000 artists participated in events held at 35 venues in Thiruvananthapuram district, including flagship sites Kanakakkunnu and Central Stadium.
“The closing day pageantry will showcase Kerala’s classical, folk and ethnic art traditions before a larger audience, including tourists,” the release said.
Organisers said the week’s programming was aimed at providing performance opportunities to hundreds of artists and at presenting an extensive range of genres to the public and visitors.
What residents should note
City residents and commuters should expect traffic management measures along the procession route on Sunday evening. The tourism department’s announcement cautioned that authorities will implement restrictions to ensure the smooth conduct of the pageantry and the safety of performers and spectators.
With high-level dignitaries scheduled to attend and a large number of participants and spectators likely, commuters are advised to plan alternate routes and allow extra travel time. Local traffic updates from the city police will give the latest details on road closures and diversion schemes.
The pageantry is the ceremonial culmination of the Onam Tourism Week in the capital — a visible showcase of Kerala’s festival culture and the state government’s effort to attract tourism to cultural events during the season.
