Thrissur, September 14, 2013: A host of cultural programmes will be held in the district as part of Onam celebrations.

The programmes organised by the District Tourism Promotion Council will begin on September 15 with a tug-of-war between people’s representatives and police officers.

Thiruvathirakkali by Kudumbasree members, a comedy show and a folk music presentation will be staged in the city the same day.

On Thiruvonam day, September 16, playback singer Anoop Shankar will present a music programme. Kalaripayattu will also be staged.

Panchari Melam, led by Kizhakoottu Aniyan Marar, will be the highlight of celebrations on September 17. Kummattikkali will be enacted near Sree Vadakkunathan Temple. Students of the Devamatha Public School will present a dance programme. On September 18, Parvathy Raj will present Kerala Natanam and students of Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed University for Art and Culture will present classical dances.

On September 19, S. Manoj Kumar and Karthika Chandran will present Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi. A ganamela by Thrissur Kalasadan will be staged.

Pulikkali, to be staged the same day, will bring the curtain down on Onam celebrations.

Processions taken out by seven Pulikkali teams, each having about 50 performers, will enter Swaraj Round around 4.30 p.m. through Kuruppam Road, M.G. Road, Palace Road and Shoranur Road. Veliyannur, Poothole, Kanattukara, East Fort, Punkunnam, Viyyur and Mylippadam will present teams. The winner will get the Mayor’s Trophy. The corporation will provide Rs. 65,000 to each team.

Preparations for Pulikkali start months ahead of the event. Most Pulikkali groups have fat dancers. This is the time of the year when pot-bellied men are in huge demand locally.

Faces of tigers and leopards are drawn on big bellies. Some of the performers get their bodies painted in fluorescent paint.

‘Kazhchakkula Samarpanam’

Plantains are being collected from farmers for ‘Kazhchakkula Samarpanam' ceremonies.

‘Kazhchakkula Samarpanam' rites (offering plantains to the deity) will be held at the Guruvayur Sreekrishna Temple on Sunday. Thousands of devotees gather at the temple on Uthradom day every year to witness the rites. The Melsanti will offer the first Kazchakkula, wrapped in silk, to the deity after Seeveli in the morning.

‘Onam Namaskara Sadya' (Onam feast) will be served in the temple.

‘Namaskara Sadya' is served only on special occasions such as Onam and Vishu. Most of the plantains offered to the deity as part of ‘Kazhchakkula Samparnam’ usually go into ‘Pazha Pradhamam’ (dessert) to be served in the feast.

Source: The Hindu, September 14, 2013